Bee Tree-Introduction and a question

[sparassis]

Hello-

Quick introduction. My name is Chris and I live in SW Portland. I started with bees last spring. I caught some swarms, did an exposed cut out, and had a great time. All four were placed in top bar hives. I gave two to my dad who lives nearby. 3 out of the 4 hives made it through the winter. My dad purchased a package from Ruhl's and we put them into a Langstroth hive this spring.

Here is my question. I got a call to remove a hive of "bees" from a douglas fir that needs to come down. I went to check it out. It is near a school/park with lots of kids. The tree is on edge of a douglas fir stand, near a paved parking lot. Pretty sure there are no wires or other obstructions nearby. About 30 feet up, there are insects flying in an out of a hole. At the base of the tree I found a dead bee so I am convinced it is a hive.

I told the owners, this one is out of my league. My ladder reaches 25 feet and my nerves sometimes only make it to 20. Of course after sleeping on the problem, I came up with a half a dozen ideas that all endanger property, life, and the bees. My wife and coworkers are trying to convince me to let it go and just tell them to kill the bees.

I am looking for suggestions, pretty sure, I won't try them myself but if they sound reasonable, I can put interested parties in touch with the owners.

My "best" ideas so far;

1. Cover entrance hole with mesh or screen and cut the tree down. I cut out log section with hive inside load on trailer and cut out hive at home.

Problems- Tree damages parking lot when it falls. Tree breaks in half on impact with the ground- mad bees everywhere. Maybe there is more than one entrance and bees fly out when tree is on the ground.

2. Cover entrance hole with mesh. Tree guys top tree and tie off section with hive and lower it to the ground gently. I pick it up, take it home.

Problems- More than one entrance. Hive extends way up or down the trunk and when tree is sectioned, the hive is opened. (Mad bees and mad tree guys.) This is lots of work for the tree guys.

3. Some sort of trap out, either to catch the majority of the bees and maybe entice out the queen with fresh brood.

Problems- attaching a box to the tree 30 feet up. Location is near where children/people frequent. 30 feet in a kids mind equals close enough to hit with a rock but far enough to be safe from bee stings. Multiple entrances so the trap is not effective. This solution could take some time.


I don't want to suggest, insecticide...

Any ideas?

The hive entrance is at the top of the first picture.



picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-4Cbbe-ruw7-6T9nvsP123kR5Z76D74iw9Z15Ts6GbQ?feat=directlink

close up of entrance
picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/jQnf6vMSuxRiXVS4y_Hr8nkR5Z76D74iw9Z15Ts6GbQ?feat=directlink


Thanks,

Chris

[major1896]

we are in the same position. but I am in a better place. I too have a tree with a hive high up...... the land lord is having the tree removed and I am working with the arborist to collect the section of tree with the hive. I think who ever owns the tree needs to be involved. and a tree specialist. ...... why do the bees need to be moved? since they are high who cares? they won't bother anyone.......

interesting to say the least

Howard

[amy]

Rent a boom lift? I have no idea how much that would cost. It very likely wouldn't be worth it.

[major1896]

most likely the lift will cost more than the bees....... might as well go and buy a Nuc or package......

[Paul]

Just rented a similar piece a few weeks ago. $250 for the day.

[Paul Andersen]

You said they are going to take the tree down. They must be talking with a tree service as this sounds like a fairly large tree.
Find who the owner is planning to use to take it down and ask the tree service what their plan is, if they know there are bees in they may be willing to work with you.

Otherwise, I have been called to properties where the tree has already been felled and they didn't know there were bees in it until it came down. The bees actually did quite well.

BTW- if you are going to put yourself in a hazardous situation on a persons private property, you really should warn them that if you are injured their homeowners is probably going to be liable.

[sparassis]

Thanks for the info. I will let them know they are on their own. I would like to try a trap out and a cut out eventually, but I want to practice about 20 feet closer to the ground with 60 less feet of dead/dying tree above me.

I'm too busy with swarms right now anyway. ;D