City Council Study Session Agenda and Packet 2009 05 12

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unlikely to swarm. Commercial beekeepers tend to use a variety of chemicals to treat their hives, but small operators tend toward more individualized, TLC-oriented approach to hive management, which many hope will lead to the recognition and promotion of better hive mana€;ement techniques. Tom Theobald, owner of Niwot Honey Farms, feels that the backyard bee keeper may be the final fall back position for the all important European honey bee. Potential issues: 1) Stings 2) Swarms Stings: It is first important to note that European Honey bees are r.-ot innately aggressive. Stings from these bees occur when the bees are accidentally stepped on or perhaps trapf-ed (as in a pant leg). Beekeepers have no interest in dealing with aggressive bees and any hives showing a tendency toward aggression are typically destroyed. An estimated 1 in 100 people is severely allergic to insect stings often incorrectly called "bee stings". Approximately 90% of insect stings are from yellow jackets (wasp) and only 10% are attributed to all other stinging insects, quickly calculating <1% of all stings are attributable to European honey bees. Allergic individuals typically have had mild reactions in the past ar-d know to carry an EpiPen for emergency use in the event of a sting. Responsible beekeepers keep an EpiPen on site for use in an unexpected emergency. The actual risk of death due to a honey bee sting is estimated at 1 in 550 million. Swarms: A bee swarm occurs when an over-populated bee hive splits in half and sends "a ball of bees" out of the hive to establish a second hive. While swarming is a sign of goodl hive strength, beekeepers avert swarming through management techniques whenever possible. If half of a hive flies off into the sunset, the beekeeper has lost half the production and all the profit of that hive. Animal Control Officer Bill reports more swarm activity i:n Louisville than in towns with "legal" bees. Our town expects around 3 calls a year about honey bee swarrris, usually in May. Our officers investigate and cordon off swarms if they are in a high traffic area. Bill calls the Boulder County Beekeepers Association swarm hotline as beekeepers are anxious to pick up swarms for little to no cost. Whether they are picked up or not, Bill advises that typically the swarm is gone within 2~l hours. When asked about the cost to our city, Bill reports his office responds to all manner of animal issues. That's his job and bee activity is just a tiny part of the job. Meanwhile Boulder and Golden (legal beekeepir.-g) report no issues with managed hives. Lafayette (like Louisville, zone restrictions) says they have had a handful of calls in the past three years. The cost of swarms -minimal. On the other hand one should consider the negative cost to our town. Honey bees not only pollinate crops but a wide variety of ornamental grasses and trees. Plums are on every corner; crabapples and berries abound. Wildlife, particularly birds, are dependent on these food sources. Lack of pollination will lead to diminished numbers of wild species populating and enriching our town. 15