How Do I Safely Remove an Established Hive from a Maple Log?

There is a maple log lying on the ground in a wooded area. The bees only have access at one end. They have just about filled the log with comb.

I have screened off the entrance, placed a full size box with 10 frames inside with new foundation. I have a 3 inch tube from the back of the box into the screened entrance in the log, which the bees will have to travel through to get outside.

How do I get the bees safely from the log into the box before a bear gets the box? I have a electric fence over the log and around the box. Very active hive it has been there for a number of years.

Hi

I think the bees will happily use the entrance through your hive in perpetuity. I doubt they'll ever move into the box unless you stop them getting back into the log.

So long as the log really only has one entrance I would trap the bees out with a wire cone. Put a frame of eggs or a very small colony with a queen in the box. Turn the box round so its entrance is near the base of the cone so that the bees which accumulate there will go into the box in the evening.

The biggest problem may be a bear. If the bear smells the bees and honey it might open the log for you, and probably the hive box as well. The electric fence may deter it, but I would do it as quickly as you can.

If it's possible to visit the location frequently you could just remove the box every few days, once you have a substantial number of bees accumulated and replace it with another empty box. Then combine the bees with the main hive somewhere less likely to be visited by a bear.

The Bee Guy