CSI in the News - CSI Today

Novak's bees also swarmed this spring, surprising her Greenpoint neighbors. "It's actually a sign of a healthy
hive," explains Novak. "When the bees are doing really well and have enough honey, it's their way of dividing
and spreading." Nonetheless, she notes that she's going to take measures to avoid such a dramatic event next
spring.
In addition to witnessing a swarm of bees in New York City, Chin and Novak both point out that local honey is
useful in alleviating seasonal allergies. "You could liken it to a person who would choose to get a flu shot,"
explains Andrew Coté, the head of the New York City Beekeepers Association. "They're getting a bit of the flu
virus getting injected into them. And they're building up an immunity to it. Eating local honey helps people build
up an immunity to local pollen allergies."
Those looking to become apiarists need to beware: Bees don't like to be moved, so be prepared to commit
several years to living in one place. Hives require time and attention, as well as knowledge about their
springtime habit of swarming.
"I understand that in a city of 8.4 million that when there's a swarm of 25,000 potentially swarming bees, that it
can be intimidating. But really the bees are at their most docile when they swarm," said Coté. "It's tough
because there's not a centralized way to communicate with us at the New York City Beekeepers Association.
We have a general email, many people have my number, but what we really need is to tap into something like
311, where people can be referred to us and that we could better handle it."
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