Bees and other animals - possible negative interactions?

Beekeeping - Basics
1

It’s my first time with a flow hive, my bees are arriving April 14th. I’m wondering which wild animals might have a negative impact on my hive.

In Southern California I have:
Racoons
Possums
Crows
Squirrels
Skunks
Stray Cats

I actually commonly leave peanuts and dry cat food for all the above animals, so I attract more of them to my backyard, than may be typical. Do I need to worry about any of those animals possibly robbing / attacking / or tipping over my Flow Hive?

Also, I live in a horse region. And, although I currently have no pets, I plan to one day have a golden retriever, and my neighbors 2 or 3 houses down do have horses. Should I worry about any of this?

Thank you for your help!

2

raccoons, Possums and skunks are all highly inquisitive and likely to try to ‘investigate’

1 Like
3

[quote=“Salem, post:1, topic:32685”]
which wild animals might have a negative impact on my hive.

In Southern California I have:
Racoons
Yes, might tamper with hive in search of honey

Possums
Not likely

Crows
No
Squirrels
Not likely

Skunks
Yes, they visit hives & scratch at the entrance to get bees to come out so they can eat them - this is one of the reasons beekeepers use hive stands. Makes skunks have to rise up on hind legs to reach entrance, exposing their bellies to stings.

Stray Cats
No, but you might see one snoozing near your hive on a warm sunny day because it smells so good!
[/quote/]

Hi Mike and welcome! Congrats on your new bees and Flow hive.

2 Likes
4

This one mostly just ate the dead bees in front of the hive but apparently was going to more this night.

3 Likes
5

Interesting! Thank you Eva, and also to the other helpful comments!

If squirrels and crows won’t meddle, then I will continue feeding them.

But I’ll probably cut down on feeding any nocturnal animals for a while, so I don’t tempt a racoon visit :raccoon: . I’d rather have happy bees! :honeybee:

1 Like
6

Cows wont meddle with bees, however from personal experience, they can knock a hive over.

A hive got pooped on once :slight_smile:

1 Like
7

Oh my god the little bleeder!! Wonder if it got stung on the nose for that :face_with_raised_eyebrow:

8

'Crows, mate; not cows :laughing:

9

Hi & thanks John, how did I misread that? Old age is creeping up on me :frowning:

10

Thank you all again for the helpful comments! My bees arrive… TODAY. So psyched!! :honeybee: :honeybee: :honeybee:

2 Likes