What's your bee story?

[Code54]

Got hit Friday - was out pushing some dirt and clearing our woods with the back blade and wham. Got hit twice fast, then 18 more hits before I could get my seat belt off, shut down the tractor and run for it. So as I stand there talking with my wife about my encounter we hear a loud crash... Well that was the Kubota rolling over the hill (went about 75 feet down a fairly steep hill) before it crashed into a tree. Seems I did not set the parking break as I drove and ran. Well the one 3 point hitch arm is bent bad, the upper link and the other 3pt link maybe bent a bit the back blade - well we will just say it took the real hit - one of the link pin brackets ripped off and the blade made a sort of a "U" shape. Basically junked it. Other wise the tractor is fine and no damage so I got supper lucky. Also it is a fairly steep hill so I am SO glad it never rolled. Could have been much worse. I am still itching but soon as the ran stops the bees will be no more.....

 

[jeffster]

Ugh, I sympathize with you guys. I am in SW Washington and the yellow jackets and hornets are awful this year. I have hit 3 in-ground nests just in the last month (1 on the tractor and 2 on the dozer). We also had a hornet's nest hanging from a reprod tree that was about the size of 2 watermelons. I can't tell you how many nests I have killed and removed from the house eves this summer, but at least those you know what you are dealing with. The in-ground ones are the ones that scare me as you just never know when you are going to hit one and usually then it is too late. I really, really hate those things...

Also, the bees (ok, technically they aren't bees, but...) seem to be more aggressive. I was sighting in rifles today down in our field (has a great bank to shoot into) and over the course of a couple of hours I had 3 lone yellow jackets that would absolutely not leave me alone. I finally had to wait until they got close enough to hit with my hat. Then a while later there would be another one come along. Usually I can just ignore them or maybe swat at them and they'll go away but not this year.

 

[kennyd]

I sucked one up in a straw of a soda about 18 years ago while at work, got me on the tongue-which then swelled up so bad I had a hard time breathing. Ended up at the doctor getting a shot in rear-end! I had never been allergic to bee stings before, but since then every time I get stung I have a worse reaction-may end up with a epi-pen before long.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

Man...compared to you guys I have been very lucky over the years. I backed over a ground nest with the lawn tractor about 15 years ago and that was my last "sting".

 

[JohnDeere4300]

I've got in several yellow jacket nests this year.

Once I was using my FEL and I scooped over the nest. The ground where I was working was over on the river bank and was soft with sand in it.. The nest was only about 1 1/2ft down, and I tore the whole thing out.. I was lucky that I only got stung 12 times.

Two other times I was using a bush-hog... Once I went over the nest and got stung 4 times.. 3 on the arm & 1 on the neck.. I turned off my tractor and ran away from them

The other time using a bush-hog I had snake-chaps on, and I had them on because I seen 2 copperheads the day before.. I cut over the nest and here they all came out.. They got under my chaps and pants, and I got stung 21 times.

They stung me on my legs, arms, back, neck, chest and face... But the worse was on my legs, and they stung and bit me, and once they got under my chaps they couldn't get out.

So I had one choice to make, and that was to take off my snake-chaps and pants... My wife couldn't believe it when I came riding back to the house in my underwear

 

[Killer_B]

I love my bees.

Killer B

 

[billb3]

I've had ants in piles of mulch, so I turn them over occaisionally, hoping to discourage the ants.
Figured I'd spread the leftover mulch onto a trail I've been using heavily to try to helpwith some wash-out with all the rain we've had lately .
Stuck the loader into a soccer ballsized nest.
Some landed on my head, but I guess they couldn't get a stinger in.

 

[Ken Cunningham]

When i was like 8 or 9, cant remember cause its been sooooo long ago, we were playing hide and seek. We had a bunch of old cars in the very back of our yard, one was made like an elcamino. I ran a jumped in the back right on top of a yellow jacket nest. Got stung about 100 times. I remember running back towards the house yelling and mama came out and used the hose pipe to get em off of me. Ive only been stung 2 times if memory serves me correctly since then and im 44 years old.

 

[jimbo64]

Got hit Friday - was out pushing some dirt and clearing our woods with the back blade and wham. Got hit twice fast, then 18 more hits before I could get my seat belt off, shut down the tractor and run for it. So as I stand there talking with my wife about my encounter we hear a loud crash... Well that was the Kubota rolling over the hill (went about 75 feet down a fairly steep hill) before it crashed into a tree. Seems I did not set the parking break as I drove and ran. Well the one 3 point hitch arm is bent bad, the upper link and the other 3pt link maybe bent a bit the back blade - well we will just say it took the real hit - one of the link pin brackets ripped off and the blade made a sort of a "U" shape. Basically junked it. Other wise the tractor is fine and no damage so I got supper lucky. Also it is a fairly steep hill so I am SO glad it never rolled. Could have been much worse. I am still itching but soon as the ran stops the bees will be no more.....

NOTHIN CAN RUN LIKE A DEERE--------------EXCEPT A FELLA OR GAL BEING CHASED BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE BEE POPULATION.

 

[kebo]

On my JD now, I suit up when running the brush hog in warm weather, complete with an Aussie hat with drop-down netting all around. Otherwise, I usually ride on it naked.

Ralph

Please, that's the one time we DON'T WANT pictures!!!

As for the topic, as of today I don't have a bee stories to relate thank goodness! However, with all the yellow jackets out in full force now, that could change anytime!!