The other day I was doing a quick inspection on my hives. Just pop the top, and take quick look through the hole.
Add a thick folded paper feed bag to the top for insulation and moisture absorbency. Then check the bottom board. When I checked the bottom board I noticed obvious signs of a mouse infestation.
You can see yard debris, brood comb that has been turned into chaff, and the telltale always wonderful mouse droppings and urine.
Fast forward to today. Suki, my 2nd in command dog was following me around as usual.
It's eviction day and the mice are getting the boot. The weather isn’t great but it's now or who knows when later. The forecast is all rain and cold for the next forever.
The day is a cold 51F, a damp cold, the kind of day that makes bees and old ladies crabby.
The sky is patchy with dark, "I’m goanna rain soon" clouds but it’s still dry with the sun popping out now and then.
It was all making me a little bit nervous as to what the bees would do but it was now or just more mouse destruction and pee later.
And the sun was out right now.
In hind sight I should have expected that outcome.
A nosy dog and crabby bees don’t mix. Who knew?
I’m interested to see if Suki will follow me to the apiary next time I put on my bee suit?
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Oh dear! Poor Suki! I hope she's learned her lesson though.
Is there any way to keep the mice from infesting the hive in the first place?
Suki is fine no visible swelling. Yes, next year I'm going all "c" shaped hardware cloth stuffed in the entrance. That should stop the mice cold.
My poor little Suki! Oh well she be fine! Remember, little mices likes a little honey too!
The poor little mice are out in the cold now.
Peeing on my honey. I'll show those little...
Did the video work for you?
Amazing how you folks can work bees in the day we dare not in Africa with our (African Killer Bee) apis mellifera skuttelata learnt that the hard way. Welcome back bruv ;) Cheer$;)
Thankfully it's too cold up here for those.
This hive has always been a litt more pissy than the rest. But if you notice in the video the bees didn't bother me at all and they calmed back down when the sun came back out from behind the clouds.
Nice job there brother. Cheer$;)
You do all your bee work at night?
Yes brother we dont touch bees in the day at all too dangerous. Cheer$;)
Your day was not easy. I have a friend, his hives, have already entered a warm barn, we already have frost on the street. I hope the mice no longer bother you, Sabaka probably hasn't forgotten about the fight today.
Suki seems fine.
Don't keep your bee too warm (or cold) as they will need to eat more. I'm told 40 to 45F is the sweet spot for keeping them dorment.
If they stay warm, make sure they have food
Thanks for the good advice. They stayed with honey in the hives.
Hope it all works out in the end. Don't think the dog will learn. Crypticat hasn't learned to leave the yellow bugs alone on the balcony, then again, they aren't here that often.
Ya, the bugs are yellow for a reason. Don't mess with them.
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@maquil, Why the downvote?