• Barbarian
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    5 months ago

    they can literally leave at any time - and occasionally do.

    Isn’t clipping the wings of the queen fairly common practice? That’s what keeps the bee hive in place, from what I understand.

    • Ledivin@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      It’s illegal in most countries and frowned upon by most beekeepers. It happens, sure, but it’s absolutely not “fairly common practice.”

      • Barbarian
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        5 months ago

        It’s illegal in most countries and frowned upon by most beekeepers.

        Could you please give me a source on the legality? Can’t seem to find anything. From my own google-fu, it seems it’s a controversial practice, with different beekeeper blogs laying out the pros and cons. It looks very much like an ongoing discussion rather than a clean “It’s bad, don’t do it ever” like declawing is for cats, for example.

        Considering putting pigs (who are known to be smarter than dogs) into gas chambers to suffocate to death while their lungs burn is 100% legal in the EU, I would be absolutely astonished if they actually had a strong animal welfare stance on bees.

      • Barbarian
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        5 months ago

        According to a quick Google search, it’s absolutely common practice by beekeepers specifically to prevent queens leaving. Check the beekeeping tab on this wiki page.