Blog: Bee Project Rescues Hive on Lifeguard Tower

Sunday morning our Surfing Group was surfing at Torrance Beach and noticed a beehive on the backside of the Torrance Beach Lifeguard Tower. Bill Johnston, the Surfing Project Leader, notified the Palos Verdes Peninsula 4H Club Bee Project, and the project members made arrangements to meet at Torrance Beach at dusk to capture the swarm, specifically the queen.

The Bee Project members have saved swarms before but never on the ground, which is very unusual. As the Bee Project members further investigated, they noticed that the swarm had already begun to make a hive structure. We found the queen (which is much larger than the worker bees) and put her and most of the other bees into a shoe box, which we eventually put into a cooler to transport to John's Canyon in Rolling Hills.

Some of us returned today to Torrance Beach to make sure our operation was successful! And it appears that the operation was a success.

Our Bee Project Members are very happy that they have been able to help the community in these instances, but it has also given them a chance to educate the public in the value of bees in the environment. With the Colony Collapse still present in our society, we need to be aware of preserving the bee population. We were happy to help the Los Angeles County Lifeguards and the bees as well.

If you would more information about the Palos Verdes Peninsula 4-H Club or have a Bee Hive needing removal; please visit the club website www.pvp4hclub.com.

Palos Verdes Peninsula 4H Club Bee Project