Article Preview: Massive bee colony moved to new neighborhood - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

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2015-04-18

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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation  |  Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services, April 18 Medford police seek new rules to stop sales of stolen goods Struggling to stay on track Central Point considers new fees for parks, school police People in Business Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, April 18 Jurors see shocking conditions of accused serial killer's farm Emergency services Argument over stolen guns led to first shooting, Monica says Monica takes rare opportunity to cross-examine a witness in her double-murder trial Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Gov. Brown touts need for transportation funding in talk to Medford chamber Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved Arthur I. 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Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Kent Bush: Memories of Oklahoma City bombing still fresh 20 years later George Will: Sustainability gone wild Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Removing barriers to walking, biking benefits everyone Guest Opinion: Conversion therapy on LGBT youth is child abuse Guest Opinion: Pot opponents have good reason for concern Guest Opinion: If Courtney kills bill, $15 minimum wage will go to the ballot Guest Opinion: Phoenix embraces Bee City USA designation Lifestyle Latest stories Official hopeful whooping cough case at John Muir contained 6 trout to know App Finder: Best Earth Day apps Health Watch: How to avoid the dreaded weight-loss plateau Fishing Report: Friday, April 17 Food Tammy Kelly: Soft-shell crab is in season Community blog: Orange-blossom water enhances honey syrup High on flavor, low on calories: Cookbook offers tasty options for people trying to eat healthier Prudence Hilburn: Test-kitchen products become ‘secret’ specialties Community blog: Leave fruits whole for crumbles in a time crunch Home and Garden Carol Link: Tea olive shrubs can be propagated from new growth 12 ways ceiling fans keep you comfortable and save cash Dear Monty: Profiting with adaptive re-use Paul Rogers: Schedule your time wisely Home Help: 3 upgrades to help give your bathroom spa-like panache Health Official hopeful whooping cough case at John Muir contained Health Watch: How to avoid the dreaded weight-loss plateau Book Notes: A big body is not a bad body Go get physical Community blog: Better Living By Design: A Symposium You Must Not Miss Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Religion briefs: Friday, April 3 Religion briefs: Friday, March 27 Milestones and Achievements Charlesworth-Murphy Drizzle doesn't dampen Pear Blossom Parade spirit New Arrivals: Sunday, April 12 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Five picks for entertainment this week L.A. rockers The Relationship play Howiee's Joanne Rand at the Unitarian Fellowship Rogue Valley Symphony and 3 Leg Torso mingle classical with modern chamber music Third Fridays celebrates poetry, student art Theater Ashland New Plays Festival chooses new artistic director A tale of two plays at OSF Oregon Cabaret Theatre's "The Musical!" delivers five clever Broadway parodies in Ashland OCT stages 'The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)' Auditions for youth musical set at Camelot Music Alex de Grassi and Andrew York play SOU Live Music in Local Clubs L.A. rockers The Relationship play Howiee's Joanne Rand at the Unitarian Fellowship Rogue Valley Symphony and 3 Leg Torso mingle classical with modern chamber music Community Events Third Fridays celebrates poetry, student art 'BRAND,' 'Western' among Ashland Independent Film Festival award winners Ashland Co-Dependent Film Festival 2015 Pear Blossom Festival kicks off in Medford Ashland Independent Film Festival announces 2015 lineup Dining Siam Cafe offers 'mild' to 'very spicy' Thai cuisine Restaurant inspections, April 12, 2015 La Tapatia offers authentically delicious cuisine RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS: Sunday, April 5 The Laughing Clam in Grants Pass offers seafood-heavy menu Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED   » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW   Jurors see shocking conditions of accused serial killer's farm       ...       Monica claims she never acted on murderous thoughts       ...       Governor Brown says Oregon 'back on track' in State of the State address       ...       Jurors see shocking conditions of accused serial killer's farm       ...       Monica claims she never acted on murderous thoughts       ...       Governor Brown says Oregon 'back on track' in State of the State address       ...           COLLEGE OF THE MELISSAE Massive bee colony moved to new neighborhood A locust tree containing 40,000 to 50,000 bees was moved from Talent to Ashland By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 4, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 4, 2015 @ 12:01 am »  Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> ASHLAND — From 40,000 to 50,000 bees have kept their old home but are in a new location. College of the Melissae — a beekeeping program in Ashland — Tuesday moved a 10-foot-long, nearly one-ton locust trunk that houses the bee colony from Talent to Jackson Wellsprings and planted it upright. A 3 1/2-hour operation from pickup to installation was undertaken slowly. Backhoe operator Tony Corsini, a beekeeper, changed strategies as required, re-rigging the trunk at Wellsprings when a first attempt to raise it ran into troubles. “That’s the most delicate thing I have ever done with a backhoe. I’ve never done anything that sensitive,” said Corsini, who has worked in construction and landscaping. “I just wanted to make sure we could get it upright before dark.” Tuesday's operation was the largest colony move ever undertaken by Laura Ferguson, college director. The college moved a 2 1/2-foot-long colony out of a tree in Talent in September and installed a 300-pound trunk with a colony a couple of weeks ago at its Wellsprings campus. “They are a survivor colony because they haven’t received any treatment for bee fungus. We want the fresh genetics that are able to survive,” said Ferguson. Colonies that are treated have been shown to be less fertile and shorter-lived, she said. The colony is a survivor in another sense. The bees had been in the tree at Marie and Dick Martin’s home in the 6300 block of Colver Road for five years, but several safety concerns prompted their removal. “I have little ones, great grandchildren. I was afraid they would swarm and sting them,” said Marie Martin. The tree was also rotting — the bees were in a hollow cavity in the base — and was a danger to the house. The tree was probably about 35-feet tall and was there when Martin moved in 46 years ago. Martin said she called several people to see whether they were interested in taking the swarm, but all declined because it was inside the tree trunk. She didn’t want to kill the bees, but she did try drowning them with water — a tactic that didn’t work. When Advance Tree Service cut the tree a week ago they contacted Ferguson. Although part of the colony was cut off by the action, at least seven feet of the hive remained in the trunk, and the bees stuck to their home. A sheet covered the severed bottom and a higher entrance hole. Colder temperatures Tuesday slowed the bees, as did their attention to babies in the colony, Ferguson said. “We were able to right it and get it in the hole and get it exactly straight up and down,” Corsini said of the move. They raised the trunk slightly to remove the sheet covering the base and then lowered it again. “It went so smooth and so sweet, and the bees were flying around and checking out their new home,” said Corsini. “They didn’t swarm anybody. There were people right down in among the bees putting rocks in to support the trunk, and nobody got stung,” he said. Tony Boom is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Reach him at [email protected] By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 4, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments   /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ »  STAY INFORMED   Email NewsLetter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed   Email newsletter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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