Moving a bee-tree with my Deere

Cut down a 100 year-old hard maple last month and got chased home by a bunch of honey bees. Didn't know it was a bee tree until it landed on the ground. So, waited a month - Fall is here, and "bees no move." And, the trees are in my way. So, I called a local bee-guy and he asked if could bring section the tree over to his farm. He made it sound easy. Told me to plug the hole with a towel at night - then cut the tree in the morning and move it before it warms up outside. So, I did - but must admit was a little nervous about it. I don't like getting stung, espcially multiple times.

All went well, bees are not five miles away.

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Nice. Probably a hidden tax deduction for doing something environmentally friendly. (joking)

I left a job site this morning covered in sawdust.
Shifting through the gears I kept feeling stinging pains on my hand. Look down and there is 5 yellow jackets on my hand and another 10-15 on my work shirt and boots riding shot gun. Stuck my hand out the window to shake them off. No go. Pulled over parked the truck popped a Benadryl and waited. Getting their last hurrah's in.

I had been handling freshly milled Tulip.

There's a tree I haven't seen for long time (Tulip). 40 years ago I worked for Alplundh Tree Company. The two trees I heard the most complaints about were Tulip and Lombardy Poplar. Tulip because whole trees sometimes split in half - down the middle. Lombardys because they died so fast and were just about impossible to climb.

Thanks for sharring.

Wonder how much honey is in there. A couple years ago we weren't seeing many wild honey bees but I've seen more this year. Hope they make a comeback.

How about that Case DC sitting there just begging to be made running again.

Thanks for all the effort to save them. We beekeepers know how hard it is to keep them alive in our hives, really appreciate folks who help. Good picts.

We've also got an active hive in the upstairs our our house. Judging by the amount of activity we see, I'd guess it's twice as large.

When the bee-guy came here, he guessed that the bees in the tree I cut got a late start. He thinks the hive would not have gotten them through the winter and they would of died from starvation - even if I hadn't cut it down. I can't say either way, since I know just about nothing about them. But, I hate to see any animal work so hard and then get trashed. Also, there's been some bee shortages and pollination problems in many farming areas of New York. Not here, we had a good crop of pumpkins this year.

The bee guy used to be an bee inspector for the state of New York and is now retired. He has his own hives all over the place and sells honey.

Next spring, he's going to set up some sort of trap-hive by our house an try to get the bees from our house to move into it - and then move it. We'll see.

We got a honey bee hive in the tree in front of our barn a couple of years ago. I called around but the Bee Keepers said to save them and be rid of them we would have to cut down the tree. I am semiallergic to them and have severe reactions to the stings. They just could not stay there and I value the large tree as shade. With much reluctance we exterminated them by spraying two cans of Hornet Spray in there. I wish I could've relocated them but I wasn't going to risk my health and did not wish to sacrifice the tree. Was relieved when they were gone.

congratulations on saving the hive of bees. they are a great natural resource that a lot of people don't pay much attention to.