Organized networks of thieves are sneaking around under cover of night, stealing something very valuable by the millions. So what else is new, right? Well, what they’re taking isn’t exactly your run-of-the-mill loot. Beekeepers in Britain are waking up to find entire colonies stolen, and the culprits are more than likely not your average criminals, either.
From The Guardian, via Treehugger:
The sharp decline in Britain’s honeybee population following the arrival of varroa mites and two consecutive harsh winters has led to premium prices for top-quality bees and a black market trade in stolen hives. In the latest incident, more than a million were taken from a strawberry farm near Telford, Shropshire. Thefts of 12 hives in Whitby, North Yorkshire, and three from the New Forest in Hampshire have also been reported, as well as cases in Norfolk and the West Country.
David Sutton, the National Bee Unit inspector for western England, said: “You used to get the odd one or two, but not like this. People are realising the value of bees now because they are very scarce.”
And the culprits may be in the beekeeping community. Tim Lovett, president of the British Beekeepers Association, said: “To steal bees, you have to know what you are doing. Beekeepers are now on the lookout. It’s a vicious circle. You lose more bees, the price of bees goes up and the risk of them being stolen goes up.”
So, basically, Britain has a Beekeeping Mafia? An image springs to mind of mobsters in suits and mesh beekeeper veils, opening suitcases full of beeswax-covered frames abuzz with stolen bees for the boss to scrutinize.
This problem isn’t limited to Britain. Some beekeepers have resorted to using alarm systems to keep their hives safe from thieves, including gadgets equipped with Bluetooth that wirelessly notify the hive owner via cell phone if the hive is moved.
But, hey, bees are extremely valuable. Most of us didn’t begin to realize that until populations around the globe were threatened. We need those little buggers to pollinate our crops so we can eat. Practical things like bees, in the long run, are more valuable than any jewels in the world.
Link [The Guardian]
Photo credit: Flickr user hoyasmeg
