The Cat and the Beehive

This spring, a colony of Bees built a hive in a tree, then one day a cat climbed the same tree.

It climbed the tree coz, it was its last resort...A pack of dogs was chasing her

She sat there, a couple of feet away from the massive beehive, constantly looking down to see if the dogs had left her alone.

They hadn't, they were 3 of them...They formed a circle around the tree and kept looking at her, reading her body language making sure they don't miss her if she jumps down.

This episode lasted half a day. She went up in the morning, already hungry and thirsty

Now it was late afternoon, and the dogs didn't leave her alone even for a moment.

They probably were free the whole day.

She was outnumbered, exhausted, and started meowing, hoping for some help from the humans next door

But the interesting fact is, she chose to get very close to a beehive that could attack her anytime, but the bees didn't mind her at all

Bees have collective intelligence; they didn't sense any danger when the cat sat there for hours. She was anxious and feared for her life

That anxiety and fear were not towards the Beehive and somehow the Bees seem to know that....

Probably they know honey is not the cat's food. It could also be that they are intelligent enough to sense that the animal is a refugee and needs some safe space to lay low.

This was pure nature protecting nature; there is no misunderstanding; no bee comes over and attacks you for no reason

If you fear a Beehive, it is probably coz you know who the predator is, and so does the Bee colony.

FYI, this actually happened in my backyard... We eventually managed to give the cat a safe passage.

---

I have been living with beehives for a long time, it is not intentional, it is not accidental either

If you have a garden with a native variety of flowers and fruits, it will attract bees, and it is an entire ecosystem

Bees feed on the nectar of flowers and budding fruits; they pollinate them to turn into fruits and veggies. They need some water or moist mud to feed on.

Eventually, they will find a high vantage point to make their colony and nest there for years, without getting into your way

There are times when you see that bees lose their way back to the hive because of electric lights and bulbs. If you are mindful enough not to keep lights on during the twilight, they are not lost as much.

Things you can do if you spot a hive close by:

1. Look at it and smile, it means there is a thriving ecosystem nearby that is supporting their colony

2. Maintain distance, let them be...You don't have to poke them, smoke them, or disturb them physically.

3. Keep a shallow plate of water somewhere in the area, not close to the hive, somewhere you can access it to refill

4. You can also make a pond in a container with some guppy fish and floating cabbage, as shown in the picture below

5. Most importantly, switch on the outdoor light once it is fully dark, so that bees get sufficient time to reach their hive and don't get misled by the brightness. It seems to confuse them to believe that it is still daytime and disorients them.

6. And if it so happens that the bees have made a hive in a place that is not safe for you and for them, then sprinkle cinnamon powder on them, and they will relocate.

---

I have seen people being very scared at the very mention of beehives; they immediately get nervous and want to get rid of the beehives, even if they are not directly in the vicinity.

Bees play a crucial role in keeping us fed; we cannot afford to see them as threats. It is utter stupidity to get rid of them all the time.

The best way is to educate yourself and not panic. There is no bliss in ignorance.

#Bee aware, #Bee sensible.