Bee Adventures I quickly understood why this colony was left behind by the former caretaker. Since the first Africanized colony I got was so gentle compared to what you see on TV, I wore sandals and socks along with a bee veil and gloves.

..Yes, I didn't know what I was getting into, as my ankles got swollen from too many stings and they found out my gloves weren't quite long enough so my wrists quickly followed. I finally told the homeowner who wanted to get rid of a leftover hive, I'd have to return the next evening better prepared. Unfortunately, the dolly I had managed to strap the 3 layered colony to had a flat tire the next evening so it was time to start over. I felt like a mummy in new long gloves, hiking boots with tape around the ankles, and my bee veil taped to the suit for extra peace of mind. .. The biggest problem is that I'm totally uncoordinated in the gloves which becomes critical while trying to keep a smoker lit to calm them during the moving process. I'm sure it took hours, but we got them home, riding like mummies to keep from having to tape up again. ..A few days later, I decided to make three colonies out of two strong ones. I warned the neighbors my bees would be stirred up for a few hours, since people live close on both sides. After my usual frustrations with trying to keep the smoker going and being careful not to drop heavy boxes full of honey, I was finally done. Unfortunately, the next day my neighbor said his puppy died of bee stings, but the other puppy was OK. I don't know why the elderly matron of this Chinese clan hadn't taken the puppies inside, but I wish she had. ..A couple of days later, I needed to add more frames of brood, or bee larvae, to the new colony, so I suited up again. I warned my neighbors again, but the husband of one I had warned came out anyway, right next to the fence where it was obvious noone should be without a bee veil. "We're getting stung over here," he says! "Well, go inside!" I replied with as much control as I could find. .. Next thing I know, here come the police and the paramedics! They were very nice about it, and I was fortunately JUST done with my chores when they came. They said they'd have to get a report at the precinct about the legality of beekeeping in the city which they would bring to me. I never heard from them again, and I've been told by others that it is legal for a few hives enclosed with a fence.

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