Bees and puppy pee?

[Swissy Mom]

Cash's favorite spot to pee is right by the back gate that we have to go through to access our driveway, garage (cars), or really get anywhere. Today there is an entire swarm of bees just hovering around that spot. They are honey bees, not yellow jackets (which are what we most often see here.) So, my questions are: (1) Would his pee attract bees and (2) Any thoughts on how to get rid of them? I won't use chemicals as this area is in our fenced yard where Cash and the kids play every day and I won't risk their health. I kind of hate to kill them since honey bees are dying off anyway, but I'm territorial and they've crossed the line. My body reacts badly to bee stings and I don't want Cash or the kids getting a whole swarm after them. Any ideas or suggestions would be much appreciated.

[mezmerelda]

Hmmm, never had that problem before. I don't even think I've seen one in the back yard, so I don't think they are attracted to puppy pee, but I could be wrong. We have a few bushes that they are insanely attracted to in the front, and they swarm there. We've never had a problem with them, and the neighbor dogs tend to hang out nearby and we have lots of kids that run up and down the sidewalk there too. My only suggestion (haven't had coffee yet, sorry) is to plant one of these bushes (I think it's St. John's Wort) somewhere to get them to move. Not a great suggestion, I know. But the bees are really chilled out from it.

[gotbigdogs]

hm never had bees attracted to urine.. try listerine? I use it in the yard to keep away bugs and keep the urine smell down.. i pour the regular (yellow) stuff in a miracle grow bottle that attaches to the hose and cover the lawn, stone area etc with it. Not dangerous to pets or kids and smells nice.

[mezmerelda]

Never heard of that! I'm going to have to try it.

[Nanaba]

Do you have any beekeepers selling fresh honey in your area? Give them a call and see if they have any suggestions. Maybe you'll be lucky and they'll come get the bees!

[Lora]

Apple cider vinegar gets the smell of urine out of the grass too, well, neutralizes it. Good luck!

[Swissy Mom]

Might have to try the Listerine. The odd thing is the spot is right by the gate and it is just a dirt spot...no grass or vegetation of any kind. The bees just swarm the dirt right there. I don't get what the attraction could possibly be. I have never had them be attracted to any of our dogs' urine in the past, but there is just nothing on that spot other than Cash liking it as a potty. Thanks for your thoughts everyone.

[Lora]

could they be those ground bees that have nests in the ground? That may be their spot?

heres some info about ground nesting bees - http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2143.html

[Dan Simon]

Personally, I think this is just a subtle way of saying that your new puppy pees sunshine and poops flowers....

[Hounds_N_Leo]

Bee's are such a precious resource...thank you for not killing them

[Swissy Mom]

Personally, I think this is just a subtle way of saying that your new puppy pees sunshine and poops flowers....

If that were only true...

Bee's are such a precious resource...thank you for not killing them

I know, that's why I don't want to kill them. They don't seem as bad today. Maybe they've found a new favorite spot.

[Baroooo]

Frequently butterflies will collect around urine puddles and bare ground patches. They are gathering minerals when they do it. Maybe the bees are doing something similar. What we use when the dogs try and kill a place on the lawn (or the summer humidity makes any urine scent want to stay around) is StallDry. It's a product initially used in barns, but it works well for kennel yards too.

From their website:

Stall DRY® Absorbent and Deodorizer is composed of a natural blend of food grade diatomaceous earth and clay in a granular form, which has the ability to neutralize ammonia and absorb odors and moisture. Non-toxic, non-caustic, safe to use in stalls, barns, cages, pens and trailers. Listed with the ORGANIC MATERIALS REVIEW INSTITUTE .