My First Swarm Catch of the Season!

Swarm!

I just caught my first swarm of bees yesterday! I am embarrassed to say that the bees were from my own hive (oops) and that it was a wild circus act. The hive was the last of my hives I needed to split and I got a call from Farmer Jesse who just happened to be working the fields when he saw the mass of bees.

I threw my girls in the truck and hauled over to the farm. The bees were hanging 12 feet off the ground in a Chinese Elm tree so I set up the ladder. I taped my box to the top of the ladder so that I didn't have to hold the box and try and yank down on the branch at the same time, while dangling 10 feet in the air.

I told the farmers to WATCH OUT, gave the branch a swift jerk and all the bees landed in my box. I then realized that I forgot my sugar water and honey comb lure back at the house, so I left the box taped to the ladder, hauled home, grabbed the goodies, hauled butt back to the farm.... only to find that my box had come untaped and had fallen over a 8 foot chain link fence into the neighbors property. Oi!

box down!

I retrieved the box and the bees had stayed put so I shook them into a new beehive with all the new lures. Did I mention that Farmer Jesse had just flood irrigated and that this was all happening in 4 inches of water? Did I mention that my girls were busy honking the car horn the entire time? Did I mention that I had an audience of farmers watching my circus act?

Anyway, next time I'm not forgetting my lures. I might forget the box to catch the bees in but never again will I forget that darned sugar water and honey comb!

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