Barkeeper group develops guide for theft
As almond pollination season starts, beekeepers face the possibility of theft of honeybee colonies, equipment.
As almond pollination season starts, beekeepers across California face the possibility of theft of honeybee colonies and equipment.
That happened in early January to a Yolo County beekeeper, who reported to the California State Beekeepers Association, that 280 hives were stolen.
Apiary sales, which include honey, bees, and hives, accounted for $10.5 million a year in sales. Apiary sales rank at No. 13 on the county’s Top 20 commodities list.
The theft occurred on Jan. 2 with the haves marked with “H-M-A.” The boxes were white and marked with “H-Medina” and an Esparto address on them. Three sets of tire tracks were discovered in the fields where the hives were located.
Meanwhile, the Beekeepers Association said it has developed a guide for beekeepers, farmers and the public to raise awareness and provide tips on how to prevent this crime.
“Beehive theft is on the rise for a number of reasons, including the high demand for bees needed to pollinate California’s massive almond crop,” said Chris Zanobini, executive director of the Association.
The organization created a new Guide to Preventing Hive Theft that provides tips for beekeepers, farmers and the public. The guide may be downloaded at www.californiastatebeekeepers.com.
Law enforcement officers say they are aware of the bee theft issues and offer suggestions to help deputies prevent thefts or catch thieves.
“It’s really important that beekeepers clearly mark beehives with their name and, preferably, an emergency phone number people can call if they see suspicious activity concerning beehives,” Butte County Sheriff’s Deputy Rowdy Freeman said.
“We definitely see a pattern that thieves are specifically targeting unmarked hives or those with hard-tosee identifiers,” he said. “It is also easier to steal hives that are in easily accessible locations, in an area of darkness or in a remote location. Unfortunately, these happen to be the kinds of areas where most beehives are kept.”
Beekeeper Philip Russell of Strachan Apiaries Inc. said he encourages fellow beekeepers to mark everything with their name, including boxes, trucks, pallets and more, adding, “This makes it much easier for anyone who sees beehives being moved to tell if the right company is moving the right bees.”
Both Russell and Freeman stressed the importance for beekeepers to have a good working relationship with property owners.
“Make sure farmers know who you are and what your vehicles and equipment look like,” Freeman said. “Let them know when you will be moving bees from your apiaries or yards into the almond orchard, so they know when to expect them and can help watch that someone doesn’t remove the hives after they’ve been placed.”
People who live near orchards and members of the public can also help prevent theft. As a general rule, beehives are usually moved into orchards from January through early February, and would not usually be removed until pollination is complete in late February or March.
“If you happen to see hives being moved out of orchards before late February, that’s a signal of potential theft occurring,” Freeman said.
When reporting a possible crime, he said, it’s important to contact law enforcement and not approach potential suspects. Record vehicle descriptions and gather information such as license plate numbers, door signage information, descriptions of people involved and direction of travel.
For beekeepers who experience theft, the Butte County Sheriff’s Department recommends securing the scene and any evidence, such as tire tracks; immediately reporting the theft to local law enforcement; and being able to describe lost equipment in detail.
Beekeepers may also notify the California State Beekeepers Association at 916441-0302 or calstatebeekeepers@agamsi.com.
For beekeepers who experience theft, the Butte County Sheriff’s Department recommends securing the scene and any evidence, such as tire tracks; immediately reporting the theft to local law enforcement; and being able to describe lost equipment in detail.