What's been digging up bees in the garden?

[enaj]

Hi, we have noticed bees going in and out of a hole in the ground in our garden, we blocked the hole off the other day with a broken block of paving slab as we also have a very young inquisitive cat and didn't want her to get stung. On looking at the garden the next day, we noticed the slab had been turned over (quite a feat, it's not light!) and all the area around the bees dug up so the bees were happily flying in and out once more.

What animal would do that? I can only think of a badger? any other ideas?

Also, any ideas how to get rid of the bees?

Thanks!

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by enaj

Hi, we have noticed bees going in and out of a hole in the ground in our garden, we blocked the hole off the other day with a broken block of paving slab as we also have a very young inquisitive cat and didn't want her to get stung. On looking at the garden the next day, we noticed the slab had been turned over (quite a feat, it's not light!) and all the area around the bees dug up so the bees were happily flying in and out once more.

What animal would do that? I can only think of a badger? any other ideas?

Also, any ideas how to get rid of the bees?

Thanks!

Hello! welcome to the forum

It might possibly be a young inquisative fox or even an adult one or perhaps a badger - or an inquisative cat (depending on the size of the slab!)! What sort of area do you live in is it quite urban?
Regarding your cat, all mine learnt very quickly as we all do as youngsters, not to play with bees as it hurts! I shouldn't worry about them too much, in nesting underground, they sound like bumble bees which are really very docile and very rarely sting unless handled or squashed and they're very useful in pollinating your flowers or fruit trees. Plus a number of such species are rather in decline nationally and need a bit of a helping hand.

Good luck with it all!

[enaj]

It is a rural garden backing onto fields and the slab was fairly heavy, too heavy for a cat I think - so it must be foxes or badgers, unless we have bears round our way after the honey!

Thanks for the helpful info on the bees, I suppose they aren't as angry creatures as wasps, which puts my mind a bit more at rest.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by enaj

It is a rural garden backing onto fields and the slab was fairly heavy, too heavy for a cat I think - so it must be foxes or badgers, unless we have bears round our way after the honey!

Thanks for the helpful info on the bees, I suppose they aren't as angry creatures as wasps, which puts my mind a bit more at rest.

Yes I don't think I've ever been stung by a bumble bee and I'm often to be found crawling around in the undergrowth as a part of my job. I have the biggest problem with horseflies! I think I've been stung a few times by wasps but it's usually been accidentally squishing them!!

[Imaginos]

Badgers love bumblebees, they can sniff out the nests from miles away, I'm guessing that's your culprit.

[pheonix]

yeah i'd say badgers, i dont think foxes are that brave!

[catalaze]

Yes, definitely Badgers. They eat wasps' nests, too, when they find them underground. Piquant! Don't worry about the catlet, it has to learn not to chase bees and wasps. Wild bees are very mild-mannered, their nests contain few individuals, and as was said, they are becoming increasingly rare, so encouraging them is good. Don't forget that if a bee stings, it dies, so they don't sting except as a last resort - whereas a wasp survives to sting again.

Life is always unfair.

[Imaginos]

Originally Posted by catalaze

Don't forget that if a bee stings, it dies, so they don't sting except as a last resort

This only applies to honey-bees, bumbles and solitary bees retain their sting.

Nice colour by the way!

[nightshade]

Look carefully around the edges of the slab you may find hairs from your mystery animal
I could not believe that a badger had been to my garden so I put double sided tape on the only possible access, sure enough proof positive! The fox comes along a garden wall and across the tops of fence panels neither animal is very regular but it is amazing that they do come