A TASTY 
     
     TREAT 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     ‘by Lenore Andrew: Milltown Cross, PIE.I. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Insects form a large part 
     
     winter and early spring native 
     
     unavailable. So, what could a 
     
    
   
   
    
     . . ' t; late 
     
    
   
   
    
     however in fall, 
     
     insect populations are relatively 
     
     lucky skunk find more delightful than 
     
     some hives of honeybees that are being kept year round! 
     
    

    
     After trapping a few pesky skunks last fall in our apiary, all 
     
    
   
   
    
     seemed well until late January when skunk trails were 
     
     to - guess where! During winter many of the bees die 
     
     other natural causes; consequently there are lots of dead bees around 
     
     outside the hives. These bees served not only to attract the skunk(s) 
     
     but also seemed to.satisfy his hunger without him bothering the colonies. 
     
    

    
     Later in spring and in early fall skunks can become a serious pest 
     
     to the bee colonies. They can drastically reduce the number of bees 
     
     which the beekeeper counts on to collect nectar. As well, by disturbing 
     
     a colony night after night the bees may develop nasty tempers which 
     
     are displayed to all intruders including the beekeeper. 
     
    

    
     How can a skunk survive a foraging attempt on a hive much less eat 
     
     the bees, you wonder? Scientists have studied this and found that 
     
     skunks can have hundreds of stings in their mouths and on their heads 
     
     and bodies and yet they still come back for more! 
     
    

    
     How do these creatures accomplish meal preparation? The 
     
     bees ar 
     
    
   
   
    
     found leading 
     
     from old age and 
     
    
   
   
    
     y simply 
     
     e . 
     
    
   
   
    
     go to the hive during dusk to daylight hours when the all inSLde 
     
     and begin pawing at the entrance. This of course brings forth numerous 
     
     angry bees. Not in the least frightened, the skunk rol the bees with 
     
     his paws to make them more manageable before gobbling t 
     
    
   
   
    
     epers on P.E.I. 
     
    
   
   
    
     ls 
     
    

    
     hem up. 
     
    

    
     eke 
     
    

    
     5 who must also 
     
    
   
   
    
     While outsmarting a skunk is a nuisance to some be 
     
     we are more fortunate than beekeepers in other province 
     
     deal with bears. 
     
    

    
     Skunks are not the only creatures which take advantage 0 
     
     bees surrounding wintering colonies. Chickadees in the area 
     
     round for a feaSt as well. 
     
    
   
   
    
     f the 
     
     gather 
     
    
   
   
    
     **********************************X- 
     
    
   
   
    
     SLIDE CONTEST WINNERS. The May meeting of the society featured the 
     
     showing of the slides submitted to the annual nature photography 
     
     contest. Entries were judged and prizes presented by local photog- 
     
     rapher George Wotton. First prize was awarded to Winifred Cairns 
     
     for a picture of drooping sedges. Second went to Mrs. Mary Cairns 
     
     of Lower Freetown for a swallowtail butterfly. Anne Landry placed 
     
     third with a shot of a killdeer at the nest. Fourth was a winter 
     
     scene at Springton taken by Winifred Cairns.