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<br />St. Louis Park Patch
<br />Resident: No Need to Legislate Beekeeping
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<br />The city has never required beekeeping permits before, so why start now?
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<br />By LAURA O LEVITCH, July 24, 2012
<br />It’s hard for me to believe that it’s necessary for me to
<br />write this article. At the June 18, 2012, St. Louis Park
<br />City Council meeting, council members to the Wildlife
<br />Feeding Ordinance list of prohibited animals. Animals on
<br />this list include: skunks, lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards,
<br />bobcats, lynx, cougars, ocelots, wolves, foxes, coyotes,
<br />dingoes, jackals, wolf/dogs, coyote/dogs, venomous
<br />snakes and raccoons.
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<br />And now bee colonies? Really? I mean seriously, how
<br />did this happen? And why are we even having this
<br />discussion? I’m pretty sure that honeybees are actually
<br />domesticated (believe it or not), and they are insects, not
<br />wild animals. They are good for the environment; they pollinate our flowers, fruits and vegetables; and
<br />they are under serious threat from colony collapse disorder. Urban beekeeping is becoming increasingly
<br />accepted throughout the country—from Minneapolis and St. Paul to New York, cities are adopting
<br />reasonable ordinances in order to promote beekeeping for the benefit of the environment.
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<br />I understand that many people fear being stung, and a small number of people are allergic. According to
<br />the Mayo Clinic, about 3 percent of the population may be allergic to insect stings. That’s unfortunate, but
<br />beekeeping or no, there are wild bees, wasps and hornets outside (not to mention biting flies, and disease
<br />carrying ticks and mosquitoes). That’s the world we live in. Among the stinging insects, honeybees are
<br />clearly the least offensive. Yes they sting, but only when seriously threatened. Unfortunately, they are often
<br />confused with yellow jackets—the aggressive, shiny, yellow and black striped wasps that often show up at
<br />picnics in August and September. To the contrary, honeybees are quite docile.
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<br />I’m certain there have been beekeepers in St. Louis Park for as long as the city has been in existence. Until
<br />now, we’ve never had an ordinance regarding beekeeping, and to my knowledge, have never had a
<br />problem. Why start now? Since learning about this proposed ordinance change, I have spoken with friends
<br />and neighbors throughout the city, and have yet to come across anyone who is in favor of prohibiting
<br />beekeeping in the Park. If there has been a recent neighbor dispute over bees, one complaint does not
<br />necessitate legislation.
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<br />I don’t think beekeeping should require an ordinance, a permit, or a fee, but I am all in favor of respecting
<br />my neighbors. I’ve been keeping a single colony on my property for the past four years, without incident.
<br />The entrance of my beehive faces my property, and when bees fly out of the hive to forage, they fly out
<br />over the rooftops of my neighbor’s houses. I would guess that there aren’t more than a handful of
<br />beekeepers in the Park. We are good environmental stewards and good neighbors. Our bees pollinate the
<br />flowers of St. Louis Park, and when we have honey, we generally share it. Members of the City Council,
<br />please don’t let fear or personal biases interfere with your ability to be objective in ruling on this issue.
<br />
<br />Laura Olevitch
<br />St. Louis Park
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