Bear causes over 6,000 KM damage to apiary near Bihać

Bihać beekeeper Elvir Šehić suffered damage to his apiary caused by a bear, which already exceeds 6,000 KM. Searching for food, the animal broke into his apiary on the night between Friday and Saturday, destroying a large number of bee colonies while the bees were grazing 14 kilometers from Bihać, Patria reports.

This is not the first time a bear has destroyed bee colonies belonging to beekeepers from Bihać. The animal not only destroys the hive but also kills the entire bee colony.

- Once a bear comes to an apiary, you can be sure it will return again, and it will keep coming as long as there is food for it at the apiary. Therefore, the only way to save your bees is to move the apiary to another location – says Šehić for Patria, adding that this creates additional costs for beekeepers.

- Last night I spent the whole night guarding the apiary, because I can no longer leave the bees alone.

The bear is a legally protected animal, so beekeepers have no way to shoot it, even if it causes them damage. The penalty for illegal shooting of a bear in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina can be up to two years in prison.