11/24/2012

Honeybee Pests: Livestock


This bee box was in the same pasture as a horse. The horse kicked it and several others, damaging the equipment. Two of the three kicked colonies survived, including this one. 

Livestock will occasionally cause damage to beehives. Livestock are more likely to harm the colony in winter than in other seasons, because of chill. Horses can kick the boxes and break them, especially if the've just been stung. Cattle sometimes rub on boxes and flip the lids off, or knock over a box. Goats like to jump on top of boxes. 


If a beekeeper was trying to decide whether or not to use a location based on shared use with livestock, it usually doesn’t present a problem, but it depends on the animals’ temperament. Some beekeepers fence off bee hives within the pasture. 

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