It is important to keep your neighbors happy. A present of a jar of honey may help. Educating your neighbor about the value of bees as pollinators and offering to show the bees to them using full protective gear may improve their understanding. You should reduce interactions between your bees and your neighbors as well as with pets or livestock. Locate your bee yard where human interactions are minimal. Don’t locate your bees where humans can walk into the bees’ flight path to and from the hive. Fences of wood or shrubbery can be used to direct bee flight up and away. Provide water sources closer than a neighbor’s water source. Time your colony inspections when neighbors are not in the immediate area and a call to let them know when you will be conducting your activity may avoid interrupting their planned outdoor activity.

Some people are frightened of bees and no amount of education will allay their fears. If you are planning to keep bees in your backyard, and your subdivision or homeowners’ association has a set of by-laws, read them to determine if there may be legal conflicts.

- John Skinner, University of Tennessee

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