Sniffing out problems

American foulbrood is a contagious disease sometimes found in bee colonies and is a serious problem when it turns up.  In the earliest stages it can only be seen under a powerful microscope but a dog from the U.S. has honed her nose to detect this destructive disease, which is a danger to not only the bee larvae, but the entire brood.

Lab testing is used for a diagnosis.  Enter ‘Klinker’ the black ‘lab’ of Maryland who has been sniffing out the odour of this dilemma for farmers and is capable of inspecting up to 1000 bee colonies in a day. She is certified to locate this spore-forming bacteria and she can find it long before a human.

Fortunately her great nose has been saving bees by detecting signs of foulbrood early. If foul-brood is unaddressed it affects honeycombs, boxes and any equipment which has come into contact with it which usually results in everything needing to be destroyed with fire.

Leah & Angela OMeara

Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)