On Thursday, May 15, The Bucks County Herald reported that two beehives at a private residence were stolen overnight. The Pennsylvania State Beekeepers shared this news in the hope that we, too, would keep our eyes open and be on the watch for our own apiaries...and maybe share it if we see something suspicious.

Many many of you keep bees, in one-two-three hives, in your own backyards at your own homes. This kind of theft (in a populated place, near an occupied house, in our region) is unnerving. Those of us with larger apiaries, especially in publicly-accessible locations, may need to take additional care.

Hive thefts have happened in Maryland, too, and 50+ hives were killed wantonly in Virginia in April. It is never welcome, but we are more accustomed to hearing about these events in large scale, or rural (or both) settings.

Options for securing your apiary

Whether protecting from theft or from vandalism, some steps may help protect your bees and your apiary spaces. Visual barriers or enclosures that prevent your colonies from being spotted from roads or allies can keep them below the radar, and some urban beekeepers intentionally paint woodenware in nondescript colors (think Rubbermaid beige). Other folks use ultraviolet ink pens to mark their woodenware.

Bees do better when people get along, so if it is possible to enlist your neighbors as friends of bees (with honey, or with hive experiences, etc.) they may be willing to keep an eye out, and say something if they see something.

In some of our public settings in urban areas, beekeepers also secure hives to stands with ratchet straps or other tools. While these can be removed or cut, it presents an obstacle that might deter someone seeking a quick grab.

High(er) Tech Gadgets

Technical gismos may also be an option, especially if your WiFi reaches your yard! There are many relatively inexpensive wildlife cams on the market, and if you already have CCTV for security, it might not be hard to add an apiary camera. Even posting a dummy camera with a "you are being watched" sign is employed in other contexts. There are also various options for bluetooth or RFID tags that can be installed in colonies: these may help you track their route and destination. Please note: this is information to share with the authorities, it is not wise to engage with thieves directly.

Lower Tech But Tried and True

Among commercial operators, it is also common to brand woodenware: once again, this does not stop theft, but makes it more inconvenient and expensive to take and relocate colonies. It is more likely that thieves will have to replace woodenware, reducing the value of the heist.

We refer to honey as nature's gold, and beekeeping certainly brings light and wonder to our lives. It might be a good idea to take just a bit of time to help this treasure stay in your backyard.

[Return to June 2025 Beeline newsletter]