A bear with table manners
Well, sort of. Susan, a beekeeper in Pennsylvania, sent these pictures of her hive after a local bear had a meal. I have seen photos of dozens—maybe hundreds—of bear damaged hives over the years, but I have never seen one where the bear was so respectful of the equipment. Usually the hive is in splinters, including the frames, brood boxes, bottom boards, everything. Not that this bear didn’t do damage—he completely destroyed one colony and badly injured the other.
Susan said she didn’t see the bear, but she did see bear scat in the yard. She learned from the Pennsylvania Game Commission that the bear that’s been seen in her area is estimated to be 500 pounds—plenty big enough to leave toothpicks instead of a hive. The bear, having had a taste of brood with honey, came back two days later and did it again.

Undaunted, Susan stabilized the remaining hive against the porch and is waiting to see what happens next. Go Suz! I am eager to learn the outcome.















