Beekeeping - Apiculture in Arkansas
Keeping Bees in Populated Areas (Urban)
Bees can be successfully kept in populated areas. Many people keep bees in
their back yards. Rooftop beekeeping is becoming increasingly popular in some
larger cities. However, keeping bees in urban or suburban areas requires
slightly more vigilance than keeping bees in an isolated or rural setting. Most
towns do not have laws forbidding honey bees within city limits however some
communities may have regulations that restrict the number or placement of
hives you can maintain. Also, individual property owner association agreements
may provide additional restrictions. Some communities have laws that ban the
keeping of "dangerous animals" as pets. Depending on who is interpreting this
language, the concept could be applied to honey bees. Bear in mind that you will
likely be blamed in the event that a neighbor is stung, despite the burden of
proof that a particular bee came from one of your hives. In the event of a
problem, even communities without regulations may choose to deal with bees as a
public nuisance, and you may lose you beekeeping privileges. Members of your
local
beekeepers association may be able to tell you if any restrictions are in
place in your community.
Locating Colonies
Many people have an unnatural fear of honey bees and other insects. Keeping
hives out of sight keeps them out of mind. If your bees are not visible, many
neighbors will remain unaware of their presence and your hives will be less
obvious targets for vandalism or complaints. Hives should be kept away from
sidewalks and other areas of high foot traffic. If possible, conceal your hives
from view with vegetation or a privacy fence. By forcing bees to fly up and over
a fence or hedge, they will be less likely to bother people as they forage for
food and water.
Remember to
register your hive locations. If a dispute with a neighbor does arise, you
should not be found guilty or negligent of state apiary law. You are legally
responsible for your bees, just as you would be for a dog or other animal you
own.
Food and water
Urban and suburban trees, gardens and landscaping can provide superb nectar
sources for honey bees. Even in the hot summer, normally a time of dearth for
wild nectar sources in many parts of Arkansas, well-watered urban landscapes can
be lush forage grounds for bees. Be aware that many urban and suburban
homeowners use (and misuse) a great deal of chemical pesticides in their yards
and gardens. This is a hazard of maintaining urban bees, and one for which you
have little defense. Bees should always be provided with a source of fresh water
near their hives. Otherwise they may be drawn to neighborhood pools, hot tubs,
bird baths, and fountains. If you are using an open watering container, fill it
with rocks or provide floating pieces of wood, bark, or mulch for the bees to
land on while they drink..
Management and control
Be a courteous and informed beekeeper. Read up and know your honey bee
biology and behaviors, so that you will know what to expect from your bees.
Check your bees fairly often to be aware of their condition and temperament. It
is imperative to maintain gentle bees when you live in close proximity to others
who may not share your interest in apiculture. If you live in an area where
Africanized honey bees have become established, or where you may be at risk
due to their proximity, you should maintain your bee colonies with marked queens
of a known genetic stock. If you find that your queen has swarmed or been
superseded, you should re-queen your colony as soon as possible form a reliable
source. Africanized bees may not appear aggressive or defensive when their
populations are small, but as they increase and have more brood and honey to
protect, their disposition will change. The risk is not worth the few dollars
you may save by not requeening.
Urban beekeepers should practice good swarm control and prevention practices.
Make sure your bees have adequate space for brood and honey. Maintaining a healthy
young queen also reduces swarming. Beekeepers know that swarms of honey bees are
usually very gentle and easy to collect. But, thanks to Hollywood, swarms can be
a terrifying sight to those who are not familiar with honey bee behaviors. If
your neighbors report a swarm of bees, take the time to explain the process to
them, and show them how gently the bees can be collected and moved. Help them to
understand that swarming is natural and normal, and that honey bees are a vital
part of the natural environment.
Prevent robbing by maintaining strong colonies. Italian bees, while generally
gentle and productive, can be particularly prone to this. If you have more than
one hive, cover the supers you remove to check your colonies, preventing other
bees from accessing them. Particularly when food is scarce, the sudden
appearance of free honey can initiate a feeding frenzy among the bees, and
stimulates an aggressive searching mood, which may bother your neighbors.
Be a good neighbor
Be considerate of your neighbors and their property. Don't open your hives
during conditions that cause bees to be irritable. Also, avoid disturbing your
bees when neighbors are working, relaxing, or entertaining in their back yards.
Power equipment such as lawn mowers and edge trimmers can disturb bees and make
act defensively. Locate your bee hives away from these potential situations with
neighbors.
Take the time to educate your neighbors about the relatively gentle nature of
honey bees. Remind them that foraging bees are only looking for potential food
sources, and will not sting unless they feel threatened. Point out the
differences between honey bees and wasps, hornets and yellow jackets. And
emphasize the tremendous value of honey bees as pollinators of urban ecosystems,
particularly in the absence of feral bees. If you have extra protective gear,
invite your curious neighbors to suit up and join you next time you open a hive.
Once they have seen how calm and gentle your bees really are, up close and in
large numbers, they will certainly be more comfortable seeing the occasional
honey bee buzzing past them in their garden.
And of course, a jar or two of pure sweet honey will always go a long way
toward good public relations with neighbors who are wary of your flying friends.
A preemptive gift of honey is much more effective than an apology after someone
is accidentally stung.
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Keeping Bees in Arkansas
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