OAKLAND, Calif. ( KRON ) – An Oakland beekeeper is frustrated after someone stole a colony of bees and its queen on Saturday. The theft happened minutes before she was hosting a honey-tasting event for children.
Susan Donahue is known as the “Bee Lady” in her Rockridge neighborhood, where she has been living for nearly three decades. She often hosts honey-tasting events made from the 25 hives she manages.
“Try to teach kids and families about the different color, flavor, and texture of honey year after year after year,” she said.
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Donahue was getting ready to do just that on Saturday. She says she placed a brand new bee observation hive on a table in front of her home and then went back inside to grab the honey.
“I heard somebody say ‘Hey look, free bees.’ Then there was a pause, then a car door slammed shut,” she recalled.
She realized someone pulled up and stole her colony of 1,500 bees along with the queen bee.
“I didn’t see it happen so I don’t have the trauma of them taking it and leaving. But it could have been worse. I’m very aware that it could have been worse,” she said.