Bee Hive Theft

[Salsacharley]

If the honey bee problem wasn't bad enough.....

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2014/...eehive-thefts/

[Tom A To]

The only part I don't understand is when the guy says he's seen people steal 30,000 -50,000 in a half hour. That can't be hives, that's an enormous amount and you would need a number of semi-trucks and a lot more than a half hour. On the other hand, if it's bees, then a typical hive has 30-80,000 of those but that wouldn't be much of a theft.

[Doug9345]

Given that the article talks about the price of honey I wouldn't be surprised that the figure was 30k - 50k POUNDS of honey. At 60 pounds per hive that would be 500 to a thousand hives. That still take 4 to 8 semis to move. A half an hour is 1800 seconds. That means that the forklift operator has to load a hive every two seconds.

Conclusion the articles writer can't write and likely no editor did any questioning.

Likely the interviewee said something like "I've lost 30 to 50 thousand pounds of honey. They come with a forklift and can take all the hives in a field in a half hour."

[Salsacharley]

In the video the bee keeper says he's seen $30,000 to $50,000 (dollars) stolen in a half hour. I don't know how much a pallet of hives is worth but if they were centrally located I would guess that could be doable.

[Fusion_power]

A good colony of bees is worth about $250 in replacement costs. Four of them is $1000. 100 is $25000. There was at least one theft in the last few months of 132 colonies. That is well into the $30,000 to $50,000 range.

[Wi-sunflower]

If you have ever been to south Florida around Homestead, you will see full pallets of hives sitting along the roads next to fields of zucchini and such.

I'm not sure how many hives are on a pallet but I would guess at least 20 if not a whole lot more. The beekeeper that had hives at my farm the last 2 summers puts 5-7 hives on a small pallet that looks far less than full.

Carol

[Cole_Robbie]

The next thing will be the thieves suing the hive owner for the bee stings incurred while stealing the hive.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

The next thing will be the thieves suing the hive owner for the bee stings incurred while stealing the hive.

If that happens I'm in for it myself.
I'll get pictures of myself all swollen up and cry about the keeper not putting up warning signs.

My lawyer, Worth how do you feel about the bee stings you inured while taking the hives and did you think you were stealing.
It was horrible I couldn't work and my eyes were all swollen.
I had no idea I was stealing they were just sitting there in the field.

Their lawyer, Worth do you make it a habit of trespassing and taking things on property that isn't yours.
Well-------no
Isn't it true that in your youth you raised bees and knew they would sting.
Well------ yes.
You mean to tell me that even though you knew you would get stung you did it anyway.
Well you se-----------.
Please answer the question yes or no, did you know you would get stung. Please be reminded you are under oath to tell the truth under penalty of the law.
Now did you or did you not know you would get stung?
Yes I knew I would get stung.
So you didn't really need any warning signs and in fact you are just trying to squeeze money out of an honest man.
Well no--yes---- I mean-----.

That's all I rest my case.
That's the way it would go for me so I'm not going to go out and steal hives.


Worth

[vintagepatch]

My husband and just took a bee class today. The instructor never mentioned if bee rustlin' is a hangable offense or just get buc shot

[Doug9345]

Originally Posted by vintagepatch

My husband and just took a bee class today. The instructor never mentioned if bee rustlin' is a hangable offense or just get buc shot

Just cover them will honey and make them put the hives back.

[carolyn137]

Speaking of bees, here's a new one for you:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/0...n_4683136.html

And I live about two miles from the Vermont border.

Carolyn