Vandals Destroy Beehives | Bee Tradition

Intervale farm picks up items after vandal destroys beehives, greenhouse

By Cam Smith

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Farming companies in Burlington’s Intervale are choosing up the items after a vandal destroyed beehives and greenhouses.

“I don’t know what they may very well be pondering to do one thing like this,” stated Ron Hernandez, a beekeeper in Burlington’s Intervale. He says on Wednesday night round 7:30 a.m. he obtained a name that his hives had been destroyed. “I instantly grabbed each blanket, further jacket, and tarp and stuff and got here down right here at the hours of darkness and coated up as many bees as I might see which can be nonetheless residing.”

Hernandez says after speaking with the Burlington Police, the injury may very well be linked to a stolen truck discovered on Riverside Ave. later that evening. He says the truck drove by the fence, destroying six hives within the course of.

“The automotive that they discovered that was deserted was a model new 2022 Chevy pickup truck or one thing — a black pickup truck. The elements appeared like model new elements and it matches up with the colour, so that they’re going to test it out however he’s fairly positive that it was the identical car,” Hernandez stated.

He works with Invoice Mares promoting honey on the Intervale Neighborhood Farm. Mares says the 2 of them misplaced hundreds of bees. “It hurts. There are in all probability 150,000 bees which can be lifeless due to human malice and retched habits. I imply, why would you do that?” he stated.

Not solely had been the hives destroyed, however they are saying the motive force additionally plowed into greenhouses, leaving elements scattered on the bottom.

“One of many homes is broken sufficient. I’m unsure if it is sensible to repair it or if we have to simply begin over. The opposite we will repair but it surely’s actually not going to occur with out some effort,” stated Andy Jones, farm supervisor on the Intervale Neighborhood Farm. He says through the years they’ve been the sufferer of vandalism however by no means one thing like this. “It’s all the time a bummer when one thing like this occurs. There was no requirement, it wasn’t an accident. It was any individual intentionally going out to mess folks up.”

Hernandez and Mares say collectively they’ve about 9 hives left and sufficient honey to maintain the enterprise by the winter however might want to begin over within the spring.

Intervale farm picks up items after vandal destroys beehives, greenhouse (wcax.com)