(12 Feb 2014) VOICE-OVER SCRIPT:
A PUSH TO LEGALIZE BEEKEEPING IN LOS ANGELES HAS RESIDENTS BUZZING.
SOUNDBITE (English) Rob McFarland, co-founder of HoneyLove.org and bee-keeper:
"It's better to have managed colonies with beekeepers who are trained to look after them and to help their community members deal with them should they show up in their backyard like they did with me."
THAT WAS THREE YEARS AGO, SINCE THEN ROB MCFARLAND FOUNDED THE GROUP "HONEYLOVE" PUSHING FOR THE URBAN HIVES.
(nats)
SUPPORTERS SAY THE YEAR-ROUND WARM WEATHER AND ABUNDANCE OF BLOOMING FLOWERS MAKE THE CITY A SWEET SPOT FOR HONEYBEES WHICH ARE DYING OFF WORLD-WIDE.
BUT OTHERS OBJECT TO URBAN HIVES FOR SAFETY REASONS ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE FERAL BEES IN L-A HAVE AFRICANIZED OR "KILLER BEE" GENES AND CAN BE DANGEROUS.
SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Heryford, vice president of the Beekeepers Association of Southern California:
"When agitated they will chase people for a longer distance _ a much longer distance _ as opposed to European bees that won't chase people at all."
BUT TYSON KAISER SAYS REMOVING UNWANTED WILD HIVES ALREADY IN THE CITY AND RELOCATING THEM TO BACKYARD BEE BOXES HELPS CONTAIN THEM.
SOUNDBITE: Tyson Kaiser, Sweet Bee Removal:
"My job is to take them out safely and without harm to the bees as much as possible and move them to a place where they can be taken care of."
PAULA HENSON WHO HOSTS A HIVE OF AFRICANIZED BEES ON HER ROOF SAYS THERE'S ALSO A SWEET PAY-OFF.
SOUNDBITE (English) Paula Henson, hive host:
"It really is a lot easier than I thought it would be and the honey's great -- free honey is great!"
IF THE CITY COUNCIL PASSES THE ORDINANCE, LA WOULD FOLLOW OTHER CITIES LIKE NEW YORK, SEATTLE AND DENVER THAT ALLOW URBAN BEE-KEEPING TO HELP BOOST THE BEE POPULATION.
MAGGIE MAZZETTI, ASSOCIATED PRESS.
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