electric fence

It’s been a minute

/ one2travelfar / 1 Comment

We drove home from Colorado in April and life and work has kept us busy.

Sadly my bees froze over the winter and most of my fellow beekeepers also lost a high percentage of their hives due to weather and mites.

I repopulated them and all was going well until a bear got into one of them. The electric net was stomped, hive frames, where the unhatched bees live, were scattered 100 yards down the hill. Honey attracts the bears but they really want the protein from the larvae.

The remaining bees were huddled on the ground and on one frame.

I put the hive box back together but I never saw the queen and could only hope she was ok. The clump of bees may have been a sign. I added an AC charger to the electric fence.

I called the NY conservation ranger who scheduled a site visit. Before she could get here, the bear came back and got the second hive.

I was very discouraged. With Tim’s help, we tripled the electric wire and baited it with peanut butter on foil.

The bees were pissed. One got under my suit and stung me under the arm. I stripped my clothes off in the front yard. Tim got stung in the hand and the Ranger got stung in the face! They were not acting like their usual mellow selves.

I was advised my fence was in good order, it was a nuisance bear to livestock (my two hives), and I was permitted to shoot it. Hmmm, I don’t think so.

I checked the bees a week later and, miraculously, both queens survived and were laying eggs. Meanwhile the workers were storing tons of honey. I added more honey boxes and will wait and see. It’s been 10 days since the last bear visit.

In the meantime, the deer get bolder.

At least they don’t eat my bees! They better leave my garden alone.

I’m not grounded

/ one2travelfar / 2 Comments

There have been a few possible bear events on our little road. I set up the electric fence again to protect the bees and their honey. But I wasn’t convinced it was working and our multimeter died last fall.

I tried to test it with a screwdriver but nothing happened. I sucked it up and grasped hold of the net. I could feel the little piezo spark but nothing more. Last year, I got the full voltage shock and this was not it.

I called the guy I bought the solar energizer from. He suggested I test the energize itself. I ordered the tester.

Tim was concerned we would lose the bees so he was in the process of moving the deer fence over to the bees. I tested first the controller and then the fence and they both were getting 19,000 volts. I called my guy again. I confirmed I still didn’t feel anything.

Then he asked me the most important question, “What shoes are you wearing?” To which I replied, my Muck boots, of course. I always wear those boots with the bees.

Voila, that was the answer. I wasn’t grounded! He told me I could confirm this by holding the fence in one hand and sticking my other hand in the dirt. Or even better, get Tim to touch it in his non-rubberized boots.

I declined. Maybe I am grounded after all.