Laws against killing honeybees?

[Robo]

I am getting more and more referrals from exterminators and the people say the exterminator told them it is illegal to kill honeybees.  I have been unable to find any such law,  but thought I would throw it out here to see if anyone else knows of any.   Personally,  I just think the exterminators don't want to deal with them.

So far I just skate around questions about such a law, but just feel incompetent and wish I knew for sure.

[JP]

There is no such law here but there are people who believe its a law, and I let them believe that. I just tell them that the bees and the colony need to be removed and relocated and someone with knowledge and experience can only do that for them. Then, I show them pictures of some that I have done, and I usually have honey with me that they can try. I start talking their heads off about the merits of honeybees and they start asking questions and become interested in bees, and usually end up saying how fascinating an insect the honeybee is and that they just never had a clue, now I have made a convert, and we all win. Thank you very much.

.....JP

[Jerrymac]

Perhaps it's been said so much about the bees dying off that some have "assumed" there was now a law against killing them.....

Or maybe they don't want to mess with them

[JP]

A lot of people in my neck of the woods are familiar with CCD and want to do their part to ensure the survival of any wild hives they run across. This is a good thing.

......JP

[pdmattox]

Maybe they need to be put on an endagered list...... but then they may not let us play with them anymore?

[Robo]

I agree, and often have the same discussions as JP.   I just struggle with what to say when they explicitly as if there is such a law.

[JP]

>  I just struggle with what to say when they explicitly as if there is such a law.

You know those types that you can't get a word in, their minds are made up, and they are experts in their own minds, they just want to let you know what they think they know, gotta just let these types talk and get it outta their systems but boy, it sure takes a while sometimes! Oh the humanity!

......JP

[Scadsobees]

Maybe they need to be put on an endagered list...... but then they may not let us play with them anymore?

I think they only do that with originally native species.

I don't really think there is a law, and won't believe it anymore until somebody can show it to me.  If there is a law I think it would apply to a maintained colony, otherwise it would be illegal to burn a hive because of AFB.

The exterminator that calls me just plain won't kill honeybees unless there is an extenuating circumstance, such as that I can't get the bees or they are in an inaccessable place.

I find it rather ironic, really, that so many people will advocate trapping out a hive to save the honeybees when all that is doing is saving a few thousand of individual bees but the hive genetics will be completely lost.  There are lots of good reasons to trap bees out, but CCD and genetics and mite resistance is not one of them.

rick

[Jerrymac]

I find it rather ironic, really, that so many people will advocate trapping out a hive to save the honeybees when all that is doing is saving a few thousand of individual bees but the hive genetics will be completely lost.  There are lots of good reasons to trap bees out, but CCD and genetics and mite resistance is not one of them.

What? Why would the genetics be lost?
OH!! You said trap not capture, remove, or cut out.

[Understudy]

This issue was brought up on beesource a few years ago.
http://www.beesource.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-196571.html
As I understand it there is no law against it. At least in Florida. But any exterminator that calls me to do a cut out because he believes there is is not going to hear any different from me.

 

Sincerely,
Brendhan

modified to add:
http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/bkCD/Pollination/Pesticides_Mortality.html

Down near the bottom MAAREC says some states have regulatory laws but doesn't say more than that.

[TwT]

that's where I get most of my removal calls is from pest control people, they say its to hard and to much responsibility to rid a home or business of honeybee's besides they dont want a bad name because the honey bee gets so much media attention the last 10 years plus had one tell me that leaving the comb behind could be a liability because the damage it can cause when not attended by bee's, it will also draw other pest like ant's, roaches, ect.

Plus it georgia's state insect and a few other state's, here a quote of the info

The Honeybee is not only the state insect of Georgia, but its also the state insect of Kansas, Arkansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont and Wisconsin!!  Quite a popular insect!! The honeybee was chosen as our state insect in 1975 because of its contributions to Georgia through honey production and helping with agriculture pollination.

[Kris^]

I saw a blurb in the most recent Farm Bureau newsletter that NJ is close to passing (or just passed) a bill that says exterminators must make arrangements to relocate bees instead of killing them, and if they can't be relocated, they must get permission from the state before killing them.

[KONASDAD]

I saw a blurb in the most recent Farm Bureau newsletter that NJ is close to passing (or just passed) a bill that says exterminators must make arrangements to relocate bees instead of killing them, and if they can't be relocated, they must get permission from the state before killing them.

The bill was amended and passed as amended. Exterminators are now exempt in NJ from having to save colonies. They can kill them. I just got that last night at NJBA.

[riverose]

It would make sense if there were laws in place to protect beekeeper's honeybees from potential...vandals, I'd say. Destruction of property.

[Michael Bush]

I believe it's illegal in Michigan.  I don't know of any other place where it is illegal to kill honey bees.  It would make sense to make them TRY to save them, but sometimes it's just not practical.  Bees behind a brick wall are pretty difficult to get out without tearing down the house.

[talkingamoeba]

It would make sense if there were laws in place to protect beekeeper's honeybees from potential...vandals, I'd say. Destruction of property.

I don't know if each state has this but in PA there have been some recent laws regarding agricultural vandalism,terrorism, theft etc... which should apply to any ag crop including pollinators and honey

[Understudy]

It would make sense if there were laws in place to protect beekeeper's honeybees from potential...vandals, I'd say. Destruction of property.

I don't know if each state has this but in PA there have been some recent laws regarding agricultural vandalism,terrorism, theft etc... which should apply to any ag crop including pollinators and honey

The problem with that is you classify bees as ag and it opens a whole new can of worms. Hobbiest beekeepers may keep bees in an area where keeping ag items is not allowed.

Konasdad posted some great information on the issues NJ is having with that on property taxes alone.

Sincerely,
Brendhan