A bill will be considered by New York lawmakers in January that would protect unwelcomed honeybee colonies from extermination.
It was petitioned by beekeepers like Debbie Klughers of Bonac Bees in eastern Long Island. She says swarms and colonies of honeybees often take refuge outside of people’s homes.
“When this law passes, it will be illegal for anybody to exterminate them. Under certain circumstances, it would it be OK. But that is a real solid something that we can do, that we can look at, to say we saved 1,000 honeybee colonies in New York State from extermination.”
Klughers says honeybees are crucial pollinators for agriculture but are under threat.
The bill would require residents call a certified beekeeper to remove the honeybees — instead of pest control that kills them with poison.
