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On Wednesday, June 15, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Environmental Conservation Officer Stephen Gonyeau responded to a report of a large swarm of bees that had formed on a tree in a yard in Fort Edward.
According to DEC, ECO Gonyeau identified the swarm as honeybees and was aware that at this time of the year, hives often split due to overcrowding. A local bee keeper, retired DEC Division of Law Enforcement Lt. Bob Henke, was contacted to collect the bees and provide a suitable home for them. The swarm was estimated to contain between 10,000 and 15,000 bees. The large swarm was placed in a temporary hive and left for the worker bees to return to. It was later removed after the bees had returned to the hive after dark.
The protection of pollinators is an concern, and last week DEC, the Department of Agriculture and Markets, and other partners release the final New York State Pollinator Protection Plan outlining the steps needed to reverse the population declines of these important species.
Photo: Temporary hive with the swarm of honeybees inside. Courtesy DEC.
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So very nice to read this,to know there are still some people who go out of their way to do what’s right instead of copping the easy way out with Raid or whatever poison is the flavor of the day.