Beeware of Bees

Stacykins

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My goats and I got a rather nasty surprise today. We accidentally found an underground bumblebee nest in the goat pasture.

It happened pretty quickly. One moment I was working on clicker training the crew and it was going GREAT, and the next we have bumblebees attached to all of us! My poor doeling Suzie had them all over her face! She was screaming bloody murder and I grabbed her and brushed them off with my hands. To get us out of the area, FAST, I just threw the gate wide open and told them it was grain time. So they took off for the barn at full tilt. Yay for Pavlovian reactions?

Once they were in, I observed them for at least thirty minutes to make sure nobody was reacting badly (anaplalaxis would happen pretty quickly, but like if Suzie had some slower swelling around her face developing, that could also cause breathing problems). And unlike a honeybee, the stinger of bumblebees lacks barbs, so they can sting you until they get bored (or you GTFO of the area).

The plus side of keeping honeybees meant that I could then suit up and dig up the offending nest (built under a tussock of grass). I really did feel bad about that, since bumblebees are such important pollinators (they can pollinate through buzz pollination, a mechanism honeybees cannot do). But it was literally in the middle of my 70 x 70 foot goat pasture. I had no idea how it hadn't been found or been a problem before. I do have some cool pictures to download of the nest and bumblebee queen, though! I did dispatch the queen, so she didn't try and rebuild her destroyed nest...

Everyone is sore, including me, but no permanent damage. I am just glad none of the goats took any stings to the eyes. Artie got hit on his ears. I am certain Dulce de Leche on her rump, because she went "MEH!" in pain when I was checking her over and touched her there. And poor Suzie and her face. She got some banamine, btw, to help ease the pain and swelling.
 

autumnprairie

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Stacykins said:
My goats and I got a rather nasty surprise today. We accidentally found an underground bumblebee nest in the goat pasture.

It happened pretty quickly. One moment I was working on clicker training the crew and it was going GREAT, and the next we have bumblebees attached to all of us! My poor doeling Suzie had them all over her face! She was screaming bloody murder and I grabbed her and brushed them off with my hands. To get us out of the area, FAST, I just threw the gate wide open and told them it was grain time. So they took off for the barn at full tilt. Yay for Pavlovian reactions?

Once they were in, I observed them for at least thirty minutes to make sure nobody was reacting badly (anaplalaxis would happen pretty quickly, but like if Suzie had some slower swelling around her face developing, that could also cause breathing problems). And unlike a honeybee, the stinger of bumblebees lacks barbs, so they can sting you until they get bored (or you GTFO of the area).

The plus side of keeping honeybees meant that I could then suit up and dig up the offending nest (built under a tussock of grass). I really did feel bad about that, since bumblebees are such important pollinators (they can pollinate through buzz pollination, a mechanism honeybees cannot do). But it was literally in the middle of my 70 x 70 foot goat pasture. I had no idea how it hadn't been found or been a problem before. I do have some cool pictures to download of the nest and bumblebee queen, though! I did dispatch the queen, so she didn't try and rebuild her destroyed nest...

Everyone is sore, including me, but no permanent damage. I am just glad none of the goats took any stings to the eyes. Artie got hit on his ears. I am certain Dulce de Leche on her rump, because she went "MEH!" in pain when I was checking her over and touched her there. And poor Suzie and her face. She got some banamine, btw, to help ease the pain and swelling.
I am so sorry to hear that and that they will all recover and you too. :hugs
 

cindyg

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Oh, ouch!! My husband and I discovered today that wasps are living under the eaves of the barn. He got stung twice but they didn't go for the goats. I do not have protective clothing, so not sure yet what we will do about them, I guess we'll have to get rid of them as I am now afraid to go out there. I do hate stinging insects and although not allergic as such, I do tend to have a reaction. Any suggestions as to what to use?
 

autumnprairie

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cindyg said:
Oh, ouch!! My husband and I discovered today that wasps are living under the eaves of the barn. He got stung twice but they didn't go for the goats. I do not have protective clothing, so not sure yet what we will do about them, I guess we'll have to get rid of them as I am now afraid to go out there. I do hate stinging insects and although not allergic as such, I do tend to have a reaction. Any suggestions as to what to use?
a super soaker with soapy water in it
 

Stacykins

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Cindyg, I'd recommend going in at night with a can of long range wasp spray, so you don't have to get close. Be careful if there is anything you don't want sprayed, like hay, food, or equipment. But at night, all of them are in the nest, so you will get them ALL. Soak it with the spray, be very liberal. If you are concerned about them reacting, they shouldn't but they could, wear long sleeves and pants, and bring along a scarf to cover your face if you need to protect from stings. I've never had nests I've sprayed at night become angry, but it is good to prepare. The poison tends to affect them pretty quickly.
 

elevan

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Wow! Glad everyone is ok. That would be the stuff of nightmares here as the boys are usually with me and B is allergic.
 

cindyg

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I'll be like a stealth bomber, sneaking in at night. Will give it a try. Poor wasps, wish I could just ask them to relocate.
 

Stacykins

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Finally got them uploaded, here are the pictures:

Queen
Bumblebees061.jpg


Uncovered
Bumblebees071.jpg


Neat looking cells
Bumblebees074.jpg
 

Pearce Pastures

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:ep that is a big big bee. I've never actually seen a queen or the inside of a nest. We had an issue with them once in a dirt mound we had in our yard but we just ended up using a backhoe to move the dirt and that was the end of them too. WOW!
 
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