Nuclear Fallout and Bees A Morbid Conversation

[blueblood]

So, If you have been under a rock or deep within a cave for the last few months, you may not have heard about this little feud between North Korea's leader and Trump.  Small, but prudent preparations for such an event as nuclear fallout on our part, has prompted me to think about the welfare and survival of my bees.  I figure that a bee hive would be of great value, nutritionally and medicinally for our family if in the event all other resources were tainted.

I have went so far as to wonder if it would be possible to protect a hive below ground and/or in a house until the three days or so of fallout has dispersed?  But, I wonder if all would be too far tainted in the way of pollen?  And, would the honey bee harmful?  I know, this is not a spirit lifting topic but a valid one.  What are your thoughts?

[Perry]

I am pretty sure that you could keep a hive in either of those 2 conditions for 3 days or so. Bad weather often forces them to remain home for longer periods than that. Once they forage though, all bets would be off.
In any scenario such as you describe however, the future would be bleak in so many ways it doesn't even bear thinking.
With all of the doomsday movies out as of late, I often wonder if life would be worth living if such things took place.

Please note! Let's not get political here, Dave has just asked an interesting question.

[Newbee]

There was a character who was a beekeeper in a novel on the topic I read not too long ago (ancillary character), and you are correct, hive products were quite valuable.
As to your question, I don't know as it would matter very much? With a short life-cycle, any bee's exposed to initial radiation/fallout, would be replaced by new bee's in 30-days or so? So long as the queen survived, certainly by the 1st year after, the bee's themselves would be free of any contamination, assuming there was no genetic damage, I don't know as it would present a problem. That being said, fallout and radiological contamination of the landscape would be the biggest concern (and not really anything you could do something about?)

- K

[Lburou]

Survival for both flora and fauna would depend on the type of nuclear detonation.  If you were far enough away from a detonation, and could keep your bees confined until after one or two good rains, the bees would have a chance of making it because most of the radiation particles would be washed off the blooms.  The honey might be contaminated though.

The good thing about being inside the kill zone of a Nuclear bomb is that you don't feel a thing.  No time to get worked up about impending doom either, no sense dying all tensed up. 

[blueblood]

Good replies.  I am not old enough to remember the red scare of the mid century.  I do remember the "day after" show that aired in the 80's as a kid and it scared the living crap out of me then.  I am not scared as much as I am concerned about taking care of my family after such an atrocity.  I have faith and do not "worry" so to speak but I do feel the responsibility to use the brain God gave me to be work some of these things out.

  Lburou, I live by a state capital and within 4 hours of Chicago which was one of the cities mentioned in the news as being in reach of North Korea's arsenal.  So, maybe it would be quick for me.

[Wandering Man]

So, if you got stung by a nuked bee, would you turn into "Beeman"? 

Able to walk up walls, pack tons of stuff into your legs, fill your stomach with fluids and regurgitate them later?  Manufacture Wax at will and shape it into anything you want?

Sorry for the distraction .... 

I know it is a serious topic.  I just couldn't go there today.

On Edit:
Protect the bees, just don't count on being able to consume their honey for a couple of years.

[Wandering Man]

So, if you got stung by a nuked bee, would you turn into "Beeman"? 

Able to walk up walls, pack tons of stuff into your legs, fill your stomach with fluids and regurgitate them later?  Manufacture Wax at will and shape it into anything you want?

Sorry for the distraction .... 

I know it is a serious topic.  I just couldn't go there today.

On Edit:
Protect the bees, just don't count on being able to consume their honey for a couple of years.

Read some of the stories about Hiroshima.  You'll see it might not be a quick end, unless you are directly under the blast.  There were survivors who lived a long time, albeit with disabilities, and there were people who died slowly and painfully.

[apisbees]

Bees in doors. By all means. Need to be keep them in a cold place to keep them from flying 40 deg F or in the dark and then still cool enough that they stay in the hive below 70 Deg. F might be hard to do if there is no power and air conditioning. Next carbon dioxide build up. They and us will need fresh air. and we will not be able to open a window to get it.

[blueblood]

So, if you got stung by a nuked bee, would you turn into "Beeman"? 

I like it!  I am a big Marvel fan so this is right up my alley.

[Lburou]

...Lburou, I live by a state capital and within 4 hours of Chicago which was one of the cities mentioned in the news as being in reach of North Korea's arsenal.  So, maybe it would be quick for me.

We are close to the DFW area and I understand the feeling of being targeted (Jerry Jones lives here ).   I'm trying to keep this response non-political...but I would really be surprised if a half dozen rockets could make it to the North American mainland.  The first few shots might be shot down in mid-air over water.  With hundreds of warheads in the air, perhaps a few could get through.  North Korea can't do that and those who can are smarter than to try it because of the mutually assured destruction that would certainly follow.  Horrible thoughts, and we really can't do much to protect ourselves aside from going off the grid to ground, and I don't want to live like that.   JMO

[CBT]

Living near Fort Bragg if someone could our community is done.

[apisbees]

It might not be all bad. With his success rate with the testing of the rockets and the number that have blown up, He may just end up nuc-ing his own country. Just because you can pull the trigger on a gun doesn't mean that he can hit the brood side of a barn.

[Wandering Man]

It might not be all bad. With his success rate with the testing of the rockets and the number that have blown up, He may just end up nuc-ing his own country. Just because you can pull the trigger on a gun doesn't mean that he can hit the brood side of a barn.

I don't know whether that was a spell check error or intentional, but it made me laugh.  How appropriate that we worry about somebody doing damage to the side of a building where the brood is.

[neillsayers]

It might not be all bad. With his success rate with the testing of the rockets and the number that have blown up, He may just end up nuc-ing his own country. Just because you can pull the trigger on a gun doesn't mean that he can hit the brood side of a barn.

Totally agree. His tests have mostly been duds.

[Bakersdozen]

I skyped with my son this weekend.  He lives in Japan.  When we mentioned North Korea, he just rolled his eyes.  The Japanese people aren't overly worried about that leader that can't "hit the brood side of a barn."