Things you need to know
Things You Need To Know
Before Becoming A Beekeeper
Before Getting Involved, Be Sure You Aren’t Allergic To Stings!
Bee stings happen, even to people not involved in keeping bees. You can get stung in your garden, camping, at the park, a cookout, picnic, or almost anywhere. Chances are, you know if you are allergic. However, when keeping bees, the risk of stings and multiple stings increases.
Stings are usually simply irritating events that sometimes swell a bit, itch, and cause minor pain for a few hours up to several days. But if you are allergic, depending on the degree of your allergy, stings can cause a lot of swelling, and soreness, and be very irritating and unpleasant, to say the least.
Severe allergies aren’t incredibly common, but they are out there! If you are severely allergic, a single sting can kill you if you aren’t prepared and get the necessary treatment immediately!
Talk to your doctor and get a prescription for Epi-Pens (epinephrine autoinjector) Learn how to use them on yourself and those around you while working the bees. Having one handy and never needing it is far safer than not having one and needing it.
KNOW YOUR LAWS & RULES IN YOUR AREA
Here in Maine, as in many states, you are required to register your hives with the state’s Department of Agriculture. In Maine, it’s $10 for up to 10 hives. $20 for up to 20 hives and an additional $10 for every 10 additional hives thereafter.
MAINE LAW: §2701. Licensing
All persons owning honeybees within the State shall annually notify the commissioner of the keeping of bees and the location of the bees and shall forward to the commissioner for deposit with the Treasurer of State an annual license fee for all bees kept on June 15th of each year. Fees must be established by rule. Notwithstanding Title 5, section 8071, subsection 3, rules adopted under this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. License fees accrue as a dedicated revenue to the division of animal and plant health to fund the cost of apiary inspection and licensing. [PL 2011, c. 420, Pt. A, §7 (AMD).]
Between 14 and 30 days prior to June 15th annually, the commissioner shall cause notice of the annual notification and license fee requirement to be publicized. [PL 2009, c. 393, §7 (AMD).]
