Since my Friday post was about the possible insect apocalypse, I thought I might post about this disruption that happened to some of my bumblebees on July 4th.
I had been out in the yard doing something and I noticed my edging disturbed. Since it was the middle of the day, that alone was peculiar enough. So I took a closer look.
This doesn’t look like much (the pink is rose petals from a shrub rose nearby). But of course I didn’t want to get too close to a bunch of very disturbed bumblebees that had been–what?
Normally the only animal that will go near a stinging insects nest is a skunk. I have had skunks dig whole underground hornets colonies out for me. Gotta love a creature that will do that!
So that’s what I am presuming did this. But boy, the remaining bees were mad as hornets. So I watched–and photoed–from a distance.
Nothing worse than getting on the wrong side of angry bees!
Gardendaze 
Skunks take snails and slugs too. We can’t argue with that.
Ooh, I didn’t realize that. They are surely not as well known for that here–but then again, perhaps our slugs aren’t quite as much of a meal for them. I am a huge fan of skunks–next to ants, they are probably our most misunderstood garden creature (although snakes and wasps are surely tied for #1!)
Karla