Beekeeping folklore, traditions and customs

[BernardBlack]

What?

A strange bunch. A bit mad.

You’re not a football fan?

 

[Erichalfbee]

You’re not a football fan?

I usually find something to do like ironing when Stan watches the girls play. He’s addicted since a granddaughter was signed up for Everton’s academy.

 

[ken in NH]

What Wilco said. ''I believe"" that it is not the words, but the odor, sometimes of fear/ stings that bees can pick up on. we all know that after a few bees sting, their friends will join in quickly. they smell our fear, and the smell of the stinging guards.

 

[Swarm]

They are, Ferrets are Hob and Gill.

I could tell you some stories about ferrets, fascinating animals, I started breeding them in the seventies. I had a polecat 'Hob' in 1976 and my brother bought a snowy white 'Gill' a few weeks later. My fella was such a handsome animal with his dark Summer coat and robbers mask to his thick Winter coat and creamy, white face. He was great with just the two of us His 'Gill' needed a firmer approach, she learnt eventually but there was many a painful experience prising her jaws open at first. I remember spending a Sunday afternoon with her after my brother was at the point of giving up. We got her from a friend of mine, eight in the litter and each one would latch on to a finger and need removing. The 'Gills' suffer if they are not mated apparently.
Then there was 'Squeezer Belly' a yellow 'Hob' who escaped from his hutch and was killed by the German Shepherd in the wood yard about half a mile down the road and 'Midge', a friendly little polecat 'Hob' who would curl up next to you and go to sleep.
I was fascinated with Mustelids, from Weasels to Wolverines and my daughter also caught the bug, she studied Mustelidae, doing surveys on Otters and her favourites, the Pine Marten. She also had six ferrets at one stage
Ferrets have also been called 'Foumart', anyone who has surprised one of these creatures will understand why. Skunks are members of the same family