A professional beekeeper is appealing for public help to find the thieves responsible for a night-time raid on beehives in the Toolara State Forest, north-east of Gympie.
Kayle Findlay had been handfeeding his bees sugar water to stop them starving during the toughest 12 months he had experienced in 35 years in the industry.
But when he arrived on Wednesday morning, he discovered 10 beehives missing from the side of Como Road, a log haulage track that runs off Tin Can Bay Road.
"We've had to battle the last 12 months to keep beehives alive and then when you get these sort of blokes thieving them, well it really leaves a bad taste in your mouth, it makes you really angry," Mr Findlay said.
Bad time for bees
Beekeepers generally move their hives to follow the seasons of flowering plants, but drought and bushfires have left them with nowhere to go.
"I can't recall a year where it was quite this bad. We've had some tough years but probably I think this one's the worst in every way," Mr Findlay said.
Mr Findlay suspected the thieves may have been disturbed on the log haulage road, because other hives were locked and ready for transport.
The stolen hives were painted silver and engraved with the registration brand F168.
The Findlay family keeps around 300 hives in conjunction with their beef cattle farm at Gunalda.
The stolen hives were destined to be moved to Childers in spring to help pollinate an avocado crop.
Queensland Beekeepers Association secretary Jo Martin said, while hives were regularly damaged by vandals, thefts were uncommon.
Police are investigating the beehive heist, which is believed to have happened on Tuesday night.
Mr Findlay said he wanted the thieves caught before they struck again.
