Bears turn out to be culprits in honey heist

Bears love honey. That incontrovertible fact was proved once again on Wednesday when a pair of bears broke up two of the Ballard Bee Company’s 36 hives at a farm in the Snoqualmie Valley in Washington State.

Ballard resident Corky Luster, who started the Ballard Bee Company a few years ago, said the bears probably ate $1,200 worth of honey, and that's in addition to the damage they did to the hives themselves.



It's the first run in with bears for the Ballard Bee Company. Luster said it's part of the territory when you're out on a farm; the trick is to be prepared and discourage them as much as possible.

Since Wednesday's bear-related destruction, the Ballard Bee Company has reinforced the wire fence around the hives and added an energizer to shock any would-be honey thieves. For his part, Luster said he doesn't fault the bears, who have to eat. "I'd rather have bears around then not," he said. "Just knowing they're out there."

There's a news video here.