The Bee Tree; it takes a village...

We were contacted last week by a friend asking if we’d be interested in helping a family move a colony of bees.  I contacted the family who explained that a swarm of bees had moved into a tree in their yard, close to their home, about two years ago.  As much as they like the bees, their daughter is allergic and the hive too close.  The bees were always on the house, deck and hummingbird feeders.  The tree that the colony lives in is an old dead oak and they planned to cut it down, but were kind enough to want to save and move the bees.  The bees were strong and abundant in late fall.  We were excited about the possibility of helping and went to look at the tree to get a better idea of the project ahead.  The hive entrance hole was approximately 24 feet up and we had no idea how deep into the tree the bees were living.  There is essentially no humane and guaranteed way to remove the bees.  We decided that we would like to give our best effort to remove the entire section of tree that contained the hive.  The dangers we needed to consider were how to cut the limbs and cut the trunk above and below the hive without cutting into the hive cavity.  The tree was hollow and could break or collapse on the hive. We hoped to keep the hive upright so as not to damage the comb and also wanted to do our best not to jar the bees unnecessarily.  We worked with the family and arranged a plan!

Jon, with the help of a 24-foot extension ladder, tractor and boom truck being controlled by Rodney on the ground was able to get high enough to cover the hive entrance with screen, cut the limbs above the hive and then secure a chain around the tree above the hive for lifting.  They tightened the chain and began to lift while Jon cut below the hive.  We made our best estimation as to where to cut and had a board, bee suits, containers and plans prepared in case we accidentally cut into the hive, the tree collapsed, fell or any other issue arose.  Luckily, no hive was cut and the tree hive remained intact and was lowered by the boom truck and maneuvered into our trailer.  The section of tree is approximately twelve feet long and twenty-inches in diameter.  We unfortunately did have to lay the tree down to safely transport it in our trailer, risking damaging the hive.  We secured the tree and were off.  There was certainly some jarring and movement along the way and we are hopeful that the comb did not break and no bees were hurt.

​We arrived home and had a plan to lift the tree hive off the trailer, stand it back up and secure it onto a stump to keep it off the ground and help prevent rot.  Our little Kubota was not big enough to handle lifting the tree off the trailer so we called in our fantastic neighbor with the big tractor!  Eugene made his way over and between the big guy and the little guy were able to life and maneuver the tree hive into place!  We secured it with cables and attached the roof to prevent moisture from pooling in the top and removed the screen.

Through the entire process, we did not hear from the bees.  We certainly thought that with all our movement and noise we would have seen or heard them but knew that the cold temperatures may hold them indoors.  Even when I put my hand on the hive and ear to the entrance I heard and felt nothing.  We are all afraid that this may have all been for nothing.  But it’s not nothing.
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This was a beautiful reassurance of kindness, compassion and goodness.  People; strangers coming together, working side by side in an effort to do this for only one reason.  The bees.  It was all in a grand effort for them.  Now we wait.  Wait with hope and love for the next warm, sunny day and wish for the bees to emerge, safe, strong and healthy.  And the bee tree will remain a symbol of our commitment to and love for them.