I’ve been very lucky it the past few weeks to have so many questions. This particular one came from a beekeeper in Yakima with a couple of hives and a few acres who is worried about the neighbor dogs who occasionally wander onto his property “doing what dogs do.” He asked what happens if they become curious about the hives.
Here is my experience with pets: I have two cats, both of which act like dogs in that they follow me around. So over the years they have followed me to the hives. I have watched the cats get stung and it amazes me what the bees will do. They get into the animal’s fur and borrow their way to the flesh where they can implant a good sting. They are relentless and don’t give up until they’ve succeeded. Ouch.
The cats howl, take off into the woods, and lick their wounds—but they get over it.
My older cat, especially, has gotten really nailed a couple of times. Now, when he walks up the hill with me he walks at his usual leisurely pace until he gets the first group of hives. He stops, looks around, and then runs like hell until he gets past the hives. He waits for me to get done working the bees and then we proceed to the second group of hives where the same things happens. And then one more time at the third group. It is actually kind of funny.
I’ve never seen any dogs around my hives here at home, but I used to have three hives in an outyard about five miles from here. The friend who owns the property had been complaining about the neighbor’s dog chasing her cat for years. One day the dog came over and started jumping against a hive as if he was trying to knock it over. My friend went out to shoo it away, but just then the bees attacked. The dog went yelping and howling across the yard and never bothered the bees again. He did, however, continue to harass the cat. Cats, it seems, need stingers.
The worst stories I’ve heard involve horses. Horses apparently can be quite spooked by bees and the fear is that someone riding them may get thrown. Neighbors on both sides of me have horses, but I’ve never seen anything happen. The horse on one side is fairly far from the hives. The other horse is very close to the hives but there is a tall hedge between them which seems to mitigate contact. So far, so good.
In short, I wouldn’t worry about the house pets. They will probably get stung a time or two and then will shy away from the hives. If horses are near—especially horses that are ridden often—you might want to put some distance between the hives and the horse, or at least erect a tall hedge or fence which will force the bees to fly higher and away from the animals.
Rusty
My poor dogs are so nosy, I thought they would be way too interested in the beehives. Somehow they have absolutely no interest in the hives, magically. But the bees tend to take out their anger on them when I’m working the hives. I’ve learned I have to lock them in the house when I’m opening hives. I feel like a jerk when they get stung because of me.
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I have two cats that get very close to my two hives in a very small urban backyard. Both cats have been stung — in the face. One cat runs as far as he can get the second he sees a bee. The other seems to know how to keep a respectful distance from the hives. He rides the line and gets as close as he can, just out of the range of trouble. Both cats learned fast not to mess with the bees.
I am getting my first bees this week and I think I want to keep them at my house in the backyard. Is there a chance my dogs and bees will not mix. I figured they would grow tired after getting stung a couple of times. I also have a place out of town but with little trees, flowers etc. Should I keep them there instead/
Stacey,
After the dogs get stung a few times they will stay clear. It’s nice to have your hives at home if you can. The bees are fun to watch and you will find yourself forever curious about what they are doing. You will be happier with them close by. The dogs will adjust.
Stacy,
I just started, too. I was going to place my hive 25 yards away from the house, at my wife’s request. She fears them, but I convinced her to let me snug the bees right up into an exterior corner by the house. We can watch them from our bedroom window but they are shielded from view from the street. Even my wife is glad we chose to keep them close. In addition to being able to learn about my bees more quickly, keeping them within such close range reduces the risk of encounters with neighbor pets and other wandering strangers.
While a little different I have a similar question. I live in a subdivision but I have 3/4 of an acre. My bees are on the highest portion of my property but on one occasion I have caught neighborhood kids going back there and getting within 10 feet of the hives.
I need to do something to keep the children away. I am concerned about the potential outcome if a child gets stung and they are allergic. I have an electric fence bought but the plan is to install that to keep any potential bears away. (The land backs onto a hill where black bears have been seen and other people in the province have had problems with bears damaging the hives.)
I have signs made up for an electric fence but I haven’t yet stuck the fence up. I was contemplating putting up a temporary or movable fence.
I just want to deter the kids from going there picking at the colonies for their own safety.
Any suggestions.
Jeff,
I think the electric fence and posted warnings will do the job. Kids are notoriously afraid of electric fences and generally stay away. Even big kids–as in fully grown adults like my neighbors–are afraid of them. So I think that is your best deterrent. Check your local ordinances. Some jurisdictions here in the states require warning placards at certain intervals–like every 25 feet or something.
Any other type of fence, like wood, is just something to climb over.
That is my fear with a fence if they get over the fence and bother the bees. If the bees go on the defensive then the kids are stuck behind an obstacle. I’m nervous about that.
Jeff,
You mean a wooden fence or something? I don’t think most kids would cross the electric fence. I have an electric fence along one property line and kids never go near it. I’ve gotten zapped a few times myself and it’s startling, but it won’t injure you–just scares you to death.