Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[jenkey]

Hi, I know this board isn't about bumblebees but I was hoping that someone here might have some advice. We noticed last week that bumblebees are nesting in a bird box in our garden. Ideally we had planned to just leave them be , however they are a couple of metres from the children's climbing frame and if you get within a metre or so of the nest they get a bit niggly and start flying round your head. They are also all over the flowers in the lawn - daisys etc and today my little girl narrowly missed standing on one when she was playing. I'm starting to think that we do need to move the nest- don't want to kill them but need them away from the children. Do you have any advice? I'd love them to be useful to someone - have head farmers pay good money for a bumblebee nest to help fertilise their crops! I just want my 3 children to feel safe in the garden again.

[Olly]

You could give your local beekeeping group a call, but not many people will move bumbles. If they're in a birdbox then it would be possible to move them to another location by closing up the hole and moving them at night.

 

I can see they're a nuisance near the children, but bumblebees rarely sting, and in a couple of months they'll be gone. They won't return to the same nest so you're not likely to have them again next year. I'd suggest you just leave them be, that's probably not the advice you want to hear but it's the easiest solution.

[Old Speckled Hen]

OK. Leave the nest...as Olly says they will be gone soon.

Mow the lawn to chop off the clover.

I keep bees and before the grandchildren come over hubby shaves the bit of flat lawn they play on

[beach chick]

ah, glad I found this as was just about to post something similar!

our problem is that bees have taken over a nesting box close to our gate - which is our only car entrance/exit, so every time someone opens or closes the gate you get a buzz of bees around your head....

any idea how long they will be there?

[Old Speckled Hen]

Probably till end August.

The bumbles will not really be that interested in you. They must be used to you using the gate.

Drones hatch out in mid summer and as they are very noisy they do upset some people. They have no sting though and are harmless.

[beach chick]

great thanks OSH. they dont bother me, but the kids HATE them - and as they are on gate-opening duty when we're coming home in the car I just need to arm myself with the info!!

[JPalmer]

Hi,

 

I have a simlar problem as well but mine are in my dryer in the garage. (sigh) Like everyone else I don't want to kill them. Just to clarify the furry ones are bumblebees??? Our garage door has a small crack underneath and guessing that is how they got in there in the first place. The strange thing is the dryer is about 4 ft in from the door they have to go under a table that has a bunch of stuff under it to get to the blasted thing. If I have the garage up they do have a bit of a problem figuring out how to get into the garage (kind of funny to watch actually). We are selling our house and moving was planning on asking for help then but saw this and thought I would take this as a sign to ask now. What kind of mess do they leave when they go? Any honey???? Since I will have to clean it before we put it into the new house. Utility room is a must for the new house. Thanks for your help and thanks Jenkey for starting the post

[Old Speckled Hen]

Yes bumbles, no mess...just a grassy nest maybe up to a football in size easy to just scoop up and throw away.

No honey.

[JPalmer]

Thanks Old Speckled Hen, appreciate your help!!

[AJuff]

I have a lovely photo of an allium with three different bumble bees on it at the same time! What type are the ones in your bird box?