by Nicole Matheson

Across the desert there are many different workers bustling in the summer heat. And not just people, but bees.

RiverScene caught up with beekeepers Don and BJ Tannery of Circle T Honey Bee Rescue to learn a bit about these vitally important little insects.

Image courtesy of Circle T Honey

“Don’t swat at them and don’t scream when they come around,” BJ warned, “That’s the biggest thing. The bees are just working, just like normal every day people even. They have a job and they’re just doing that job.”

Image courtesy of Circle T Honey

It all started in 2013. BJ said, “My husband woke up one morning and said he wanted bees. Being in real estate, I spent some time looking into what’s required from the county and your neighbors, you know, just finding out everything about it.”

Don met with a friend and beekeeper who showed him the ropes. “That’s it. I want to go home and start building,” BJ quoted Don. “And he’s been knee deep ever since.”

Image courtesy of Circle T Honey

Image courtesy of Circle T Honey

It’s the bees themselves that keep the Tannerys dedicated to their work.

“They’re a super organism and they can take care of themselves, but it’s the things that we do for them, having them in a hot climate and stuff like that. But when you sit and you watch them, you’ll understand. They’re just amazing creatures, the things that they do and what they are capable of,” BJ said.

Though certainly inspiring, there are ups and downs to the job, including stings which the Tannerys report happen too much to even talk about. This is especially dangerous for BJ who developed an allergy about five years ago.

Most people can take Benedryl to alleviate the symptoms of a bee sting, though for BJ and those who are allergic, epipens and a trip to the ER are necessary.

Because of this, Don and BJ split their tasks accordingly. “I do the internal things, running the business and making sure our permits are up. Making labels, bottling…keeping up on our stock and those kinds of things.”

For the most part, it is Don handling the bees and while BJ says he gets stung numerous times, especially when dealing with wild hives, “He never complains, he just keeps going.”

Image courtesy of Circle T Honey

Image courtesy of Circle T Honey

When it comes to bee rescue, this is difficult work that doesn’t always have a happy ending. Some bees are just too aggressive to be handled, resulting in difficult scenarios for those trying to help. Although, “mean” bees can still be tolerated in some situations.

“We bring them home and the first thing we do is immediately buy new queens for them.” BJ said that Italian queen bees are then used to “calm” the hive. “It’s the backyard beekeepers themselves that are taking care of those mean bees and making it so they can stay amongst us.”

The heat of Lake Havasu does create special challenges for the beekeepers and the bees alike. “It’s just really hot,” BJ said, explaining that honey collecting in the summer and maintenance for the bees for the year is tough work.

Image courtesy of Circle T Honey

The work being demanding as it is, Don may be scaling back the amount of bee rescues that Circle T Honey performs. Still, they are referring everything to people they know, so that Havasu is not left without this important service. And even still, the Tannerys are good-hearted people who genuinely want to help others as well as the bees…so expect that Circle T Honey will continue.

You can find Circle T’s honey at the local farmer’s market at The KAWS on Saturday mornings, or visit their website at www.circlethoney.com

Image courtesy of Circle T Honey

Image courtesy of Circle T Honey