Bees continually swarm our water feature - Ask Extension
We love in rural Wash cty. Our neighbor is hosting several beehives for a friend. But these news have found our backyard waterfall and swarm continu...
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Bees continually swarm our water feature #879886
Asked August 02, 2024, 11:43 AM EDT
We love in rural Wash cty. Our neighbor is hosting several beehives for a friend. But these news have found our backyard waterfall and swarm continually thru the day to get water. They don't bother us...but they also are in my raised beds flying around me when working the garden. Are there rules around managing bees near homes or what the distance is from neighboring properties? The pic uploaded is early morning before the bulk of hive arrives. They go back and forth all day ;-(
Washington County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Ellen,
Honey bees forage for water when it gets hot outside. They use the water to form little water bubbles with their mouth which they fan off at the entrance to act as a kind of swamp cooler. When temperatures go up, they will seek water.
Most counties permit beekeeping as an agricultural activity. As you might know, many Willamette Valley crops are honey bee pollinated (vegetable and clover seed production, berries and tree fruit), so invariably honey bee colonies are across our rural counties. I would let the neighbor know they are being a nuisance, and they can try and reduced this by not working the colonies when you plan to be enjoying your yard or making sure any big work is done when you are away. Communication is key. In general, July and August are the months when nuisances can be most pronounced, as the flowers are starting to fade from the landscape and bee colonies are at their peak populations.
Best,
Andony
Honey bees forage for water when it gets hot outside. They use the water to form little water bubbles with their mouth which they fan off at the entrance to act as a kind of swamp cooler. When temperatures go up, they will seek water.
Most counties permit beekeeping as an agricultural activity. As you might know, many Willamette Valley crops are honey bee pollinated (vegetable and clover seed production, berries and tree fruit), so invariably honey bee colonies are across our rural counties. I would let the neighbor know they are being a nuisance, and they can try and reduced this by not working the colonies when you plan to be enjoying your yard or making sure any big work is done when you are away. Communication is key. In general, July and August are the months when nuisances can be most pronounced, as the flowers are starting to fade from the landscape and bee colonies are at their peak populations.
Best,
Andony
