Orange County’s Beekeeping History Provides Insight into Increased Bee Activity

The climate and canyons of Orange County provide ideal space for bees to pollinate quite happily. Orange County has a strong base of experienced beekeepers and is seeing more interest in beekeeping as a hobby, helping meet the demand for local foods and goods. The rich history of beekeeping throughout Orange County continues to bring awareness and build interest among hobbyists.

The History of Honeybees in Orange County

Settlers in the beautiful canyon communities of Orange County brought beekeeping to the areas long ago. Beekeeping still has a strong and growing presence in Orange County. Climate changes, urban development, and droughts threaten bee colonies, making beekeeping more challenging than ever. Orange County beekeepers and enthusiasts continue to encourage domestic beekeeping in local areas. Local beekeepers are glad to help newcomers get established while providing insight and guidance into the art of successful beekeeping. There are several great resources for those interested in learning more about beekeeping!

Orange County Beekeepers Are Spoiled with Variety

The number of native sage plant species that organically grow in the canyons of Orange County has helped cultivate a sustainable beekeeping community. The sage in Laguna Canyon is not found anywhere else, creating incredibly unique honey products. Its sweetness is said to be so light in color that it looks white and tastes like bubblegum. Some of the varieties of honey are one-offs and impossible to duplicate. The wide wildflower varieties and many food resources for bees allow Orange County to experience a wide range of colors and flavors of local honey.

Even if they do not want to take on beekeeping themselves, residents in Orange County enjoy the honey from local beekeepers. The rare varieties sell out fast, and the bee community stays in touch with local beekeepers to get the first pick of the harvest. Orange County bee enthusiasts continue to bring awareness to residents and businesses, creating a cohesive effort to protect the bees and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

California’s Climate Affects Bee Activity

As California is experiencing snow in the hills this week, the bees may experience abundant water in nearby lakes, like Lake Elsinore. Previously, beekeepers were forced to continually provide pools of water and sugar syrup to supplement what bees need to survive. If there is no water, there are no flowers to pollinate, meaning no pollen.

Orange Country Beekeepers

Many beekeepers in Orange County have been at it for over thirty years. These tenured beekeepers’ eyes are lighting up with the continued explosion of interest in beekeeping as a hobby. The growing local beekeeping efforts are meeting local and organic food demand.

Beekeepers are not in it for the money. As one beekeeper put it, beekeeping is one of the slowest ways to go broke. Keeping the tradition of beekeeping alive in Orange County drives many collaborative efforts to rescue beehives from urban areas. Only professional bee removal companies, who are often reputable beekeepers as well, should be tasked with removing a beehive. The risks to both the people and the bees are too high. Orange County residents must depend on professionals to use proper care when removing a beehive from an unwanted business or residential property location.

Unkept Beehives Can Be Dangerous

Unfortunately, some beekeepers get in over their heads. Either they cannot care for their hives, have too many, or try to tackle challenges alone without seeking advice from the bee community. In some situations, dozens of hives may be neglected, and colonies become infected or infested. In these situations, the hives may become dangerous. When people fear being on their property, it is time to call an expert bee removal company that can remove beehives properly.

Two Camps for Beehive Removal

Rogue beehives can be dangerous, and depending on the bee removal company you work with, their approach will be in one of two camps. One camp is to relocate every hive and nurse it back to health. These bee removal companies do everything they can to help the bees because they are concerned about bee decline and threats to our nation’s food production. The second camp of bee removal is fogging and killing aggressive hives. Bee behavior can become aggressive, especially when a hive is attacked or threatened. The bee removal companies who destroy deemed aggressive bees believe the bad temperament of the bees is too much of a risk to attempt to relocate.

Some beekeepers who choose to relocate can be stung hundreds of times, even with the correct equipment. Any excessive amount of bee stings can land a person in the hospital. It is critical to avoid attempting to remove any size hive from your property and contact a local beekeeper immediately if you need help managing the hives you are keeping in Orange County.