Dealing with tree rats

[browningautorifle]

Would they not be in the kitchen? That's where you want the eggs...

[jmoore]

My Grandmother (father's side) used to have them in a big chicken house. Two of 'em. Plus some that wandered under her house and in the yard...None in the house (alive that is) that I recall. Wouldn't mind a few about, but the feed seems to be mostly weed seeds. Got enough of those with which to contend already.

But the bees left after 10-15 years in the current hive. They didn't move far, just not sure exactly where.

Jars and jars and jars of raw honey!


harvested multiple gallons of honey and at least 7-8 pounds of wax.


Wax and honey got darker as the hive neared the outer wall. About 6 feet long, mostly between two joists. Have photos of the "demolition"/harvest but can't find them just now.

[WarPig1976]

I flail my arms and weird sounds come from my mouth as I run when I encounter ONE bee! Can't imagine a hive in my wall,,, I'd have to move...

[jmoore]

This house has had bees more often than not over 49 years. If not in ours, then in the neighbor's house. Or both. They're tame and help the garden.

[browningautorifle]

And the wax is used for fluxing your cast bullets...

[vintage hunter]

It's a rare thing to encounter wild honey bees in my neck of the woods. There always seems to be a logging operation going on somewhere and I suppose that may have a lot to do with it, destruction of suitable trees in which to build hives. The oddest place I've ever found a wild bee hive was in the differential case of an old junk bulldozer. They came and went through an open service port about 1 1/4'' in diameter which made it impossible for anything to raid the hive short of dismantling it. A honey bee version of fort knox. As impregnable as it was I think the queen made a bad choice of hive locations, it seems they didn't survive the winter. I often wonder if the honey got contaminated by the gear oil residue or the fumes off it and they starved or whether they froze to death in their cast iron hive. At any rate they was no sign of them the next spring.

[jmoore]

And the wax is used for fluxing your cast bullets...

Maybe. But I've a big drawer full of old candles for that purpose already. Too much work to get that wax to merrily burn it off! Have used some on furniture and may try some as a lube ingredient. Also handy for canning, etc.

[catman]

Honey Bee's huh? I had a nest of them in my garage wall and had a bee keeper come over and remove the wall and then the bees and the honey combs.
Sure was a lot of fresh honey, that looked good.
No bees were harmed during this relocating procedure.
Chuck