bee tree

[kenr]

My uncle just found a bee tree Sat.What would you folks do leave it alone and try to catch swarms from it next spring or try and cut it down.There's a good chance that if we cut the tree down that it will fall in the river.My uncle who is a part time logger said maybe 50/50 chance.

[honeybeekeeper]

If the tree doesnt have to be cut down! Why not catch a swarm every year from the tree and let it be your honey bee producing tree! Thats what i would do! But if the tree has to come down then yes i would wait until spring!

[berkshire bee]

yes, you may have found a perpetual source of swarms. Put a few boxes out in the spring.

[valleyman]

I would wait until spring and start capturing swarms/bees, using the swarm harvester from Kelleys.
www.kelleybees.com Item # 890sh

[bruce todd]

Leave them alone, and try to catch some swarms. Let Mother Nature do her work. We may all be better off for it. Good Luck. B...

[knoxjk]

What would be the best method of catching swarms from a bee tree, I know of several and wanted to catch when they swarm.

[kenr]

Using the bee tree to catch swarms is my first choice I just don't know how long it will stay up the river has washed half of the soil from one side and it has started leaning that way which was why my Uncle said 50/50 chance of it going in to the river when he cuts it .We don't know how long this tree has been this way could have been for years.These girls are a little touchy he went to the tree and hit it with a hammer and the girls stung him about twenty times.

[Tia]

Please don't cut that tree down!! We have to start cherishing our bee trees. Since you live in NC, instead, go to www.savethehives.com/fbp and put the tree on the map.

[kenr]

Tia I'm not going to cut it down but will try and trap some swarms next spring if this tree stays up.Not looking to good right now my son tried to climb it and it started shifting we left it alone after that.

[Tia]

Oh, sorry. Keep an eye on it so that if it does fall, you can hopefully salvage the colony.

[honeybeekeeper]

If you think the tree is gonna fall in the river at some point because of the soil being washed away around the roots, then i would be looking in on the trap out method for next spring!

[Bee Bliss]

At this point it doesn't sound like even putting large rocks in the river against the exposed roots would help keep it upright and who knows what "officials" would regulate on that. Sounds like it is just a matter of time. Hope they make it till swarm season at least.

Curious as to what percent angle it is at and how high up are the bees?

[kenr]

the hole is facing the river were thinking of wrapping a logging chain around the tree and try to anchor it to a rock.