Bee tree update and DC RT and MR RT construction updates

[ERT - Mike Breiding]

fyi -mb
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Good morning!

Thanks for your patience with this tree (and all down trees). Here are a few updates and I would love an update of what you see.

I believe the white box might now be gone. My beekeeper was trying to collect the bees but they may have chosen another home elsewhere. You will see a log over the bank that is parallel to trail and full of honey comb. The bees will continue to harvest on that and take it to new home.   They are not aggressive but best to take care moving through the area. It may take a few days before we remove the tree. 

Beekeeper thoughts on this hive-  at least 40-50,000 bees in this very old hive (possibly 30 years). Russian variety of honey bee which are know for ability to endure cold weather.  Skunk, opossum, and bear will eat the honey comb.

Other news

1) Deckers Creek Trail in much better shape for the weekend all the way up but still watch for storm damage. Mountain Valley Resources will be working on it next week from Summer School to Masontown starting on Tuesday-Friday. Two culverts to be upgraded.

2) Most of you already know- lots of washouts and damage to trail in trail mile 12 of Mon River Rail-Trail, below the industrial park bridge access construction.  There is lots of glass in several wash out areas.  We are working on a fix but this will take some time.  I suggest starting your biking at Uffington for this section of trail. 

3) Today at 3:00pm, dedication of the big mural on the trail side of South High Station, post office building. This is a Main Street Morgantown project.  I will have a MRTC table at the event. https://www.facebook.com/monrivertrails

Cheers, Ella

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On Aug 9, 2025, at 6:17 AM, ERT - Mike Breiding <epicro...@gmail.com> wrote:

On 8/8/2025 4:24 PM, kelly r williams wrote:

Saturday’s ride, 10 am, from Star City to Point Marion and Lake Lynn Dam.

There’s a tree down just north of mile 3.  It’s a honey tree, with honey bees flying around.   I understand that they collected most of the bees but there are a few left flying around. I biked through it safely and so did Marilyn, but I just wanted cyclists to be careful. Kelly 

Yesterday I rode from Point Marion to Fairmont on the MR Rail-Trail. This took me by the downed bee tree.
Two videos and a photo are here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/9bAhUUJipew6LH2q6
They were not aggressive.
Someone has set up a bee capture box which looked to be mostly ignored by the  honeybees.
The location is here: https://tinyurl.com/25by99w4
-mb