At 2 stories and 500,000 bees, hive discovered in Spring home shocks experts

[Judi Lynn]

At 2 stories and 500,000 bees, hive discovered in Spring home shocks experts
By Heather Alexander | March 31, 2014 | Updated: March 31, 2014 4:42pm

Beekeepers are working to remove a beehive that's potentially two stories high after it was discovered in the wall of a house in Spring.

Brent Wallace, whose mother owns the property, told bee experts he had someone in to remove the bees 15 years ago but they returned just six months later.

When he finally called someone back to look again on Sunday, it turned out the bees were far from gone and had been pretty busy since 1999.

"We cut out the first 10 feet of hive," said Walter Schumacher from Central Texas Bee Removal. "It's entirely possible there is another 10 feet further up. Hives grow a foot to a foot and a half every year."

That would make it 20 feet high and the largest the bee removers have ever seen.

More:
http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/springtx/article/At-2-stories-and-500-000-bees-hive-discovered-in-5364152.php?cmpid=rrhoustontx

It's great learning the authorities actually moved to protect these guys.

[Theyletmeeatcake2]

1. I hope they beehived themselves!!!!

Lol

[Javaman]

2. Being a beekeeper myself, I'm fascinated by this....

the hive dynamics must be interesting.

I can't believe that there is only one queen in this hive.

I would love to talk to these guys and ask them about this.

[mackerel]

3. Maybe using old houses is the way to preserve our dying

Bee population?

[progressoid]

4. That's a lot of bees.

[Bigmack]

5. Where are they getting the pollen...?

There must be a helluva lot of flowers/bushes around that area.

[OnlinePoker]

6. North of Houston

According to last weeks drought monitor, they're free of drought there. Maps show a lot of nature preserves to the east of the city so I would imagine there would be plenty of food for the bees, though I don't know the proximity of the hives to these preserves.