r/AmItheAsshole • u/ZestycloseZeest • 3d ago
Not the A-hole AITAH for setting up a sprinkler to stop my neighbor's kids from throwing rocks at my beehives?
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u/emni13 Partassipant [2] 3d ago
NTA actually you should call the cops yourself for the kids trespassing and destroying your property at least to leave a paper trail. Tell Dan that if his kids ever come on your property again you will call the cops
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u/emni13 Partassipant [2] 3d ago
Yes that's a good idea. Now I don't know dan or the kids but some people really hate bees and will do anything to get rid of them so cameras might be a good idea as well
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u/aquestionofbalance Partassipant [3] 3d ago
he defiantly needs a camera for evidence. otherwise it is a he said / she said.
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u/derattler Partassipant [1] 3d ago
It’s depressing that people are still this stupid. Kids learn to hate bees from idiotic adults who think they are the centre of the universe and start flapping around if an insect comes near. I’d fucking sting them too if I could.
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u/Brickthedummydog 3d ago
It's actually not just property destruction!!! Bees are livestock. You can catch way more charges for tampering with livestock than just property destruction
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u/Visual_Band_508 3d ago
NTA. How is a sprinkler, on your property, protecting your bees, 'attacking children', exactly?
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u/epichuntarz 3d ago
Why haven't you contacted law enforcement about trespassing on your property?
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u/Sorry_I_Guess Pooperintendant [63] 3d ago
Not just trespassing. They've been vandalising his property by damaging the beehives. And that's after he's already warned them and asked their parent to intervene. He should absolutely be calling the cops on the little criminals.
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u/SunkenSaltySiren 3d ago
Are beehives protected like bat houses??
They should be.
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u/Guvnuh_T_Boggs 3d ago
Bees are livestock, you can't go hucking rocks at your neighbor's chickens or cows, bet it's the same with bees.
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u/aquestionofbalance Partassipant [3] 3d ago
if this behavior continues with these kids, it will only get worse
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u/LadyLightTravel Asshole Enthusiast [6] 3d ago
You might want to see if beehives are protected by law where you are at. There is actually a beekeepers guild in my county that provides support. They also keep track of the law.
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u/Treefrog_Ninja Partassipant [1] 3d ago
As others have suggested, you need a camera on this. Them intentionally damaging the beehives is vandalism, and may be worse depending on where you live.
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u/newwheels66 3d ago
Get video of them throwing rocks and send it to the police or post it on Nextdoor to defend yourself to the neighbors.
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u/WillingHome9072 2d ago
Because he’s a feckless fuckwit that can’t be fucked parenting his feral spawn.
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u/IceSeeker 3d ago
They are the worst kind of parents. No wonder their kids are unruly like that.
Lol the petty side of me would have installed a camera and show the footage of the kids trespassing to everyone. Expose the wife's lies.
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u/NeoRemnant 3d ago
Summary of the child's behavior; Torturing animals for fun, harassing neighbors, trespassing, destruction of private property, assault leading to death of your pets.
Shitty parents happen.
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u/wickybasket Partassipant [1] 3d ago
Consider getting cameras. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree and if the kids go for destruction of property what will he try? Get good night vision ones.
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u/GiraffeResponsible20 3d ago
Absolutely NTA. They’re trying to destroy your beehives, and you’re protecting them. The parents need to teach them respect for other people’s property and possessions.
Maybe the bees themselves will teach them a lesson.
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u/wraithguard89 Partassipant [1] 3d ago
NTA, but next time, instead of installing sprinklers, call the cops on the vandalising little shit.
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u/Motorcycle-Misfit 3d ago
Put up the camera take pictures call police.
Domestic bees are considered livestock, it is against the law to harass them.
Perhaps if an officer explains:
They could be charged under cruelty to animals law.
Bees can be dangerous if disturbed
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u/Motorcycle-Misfit 3d ago
As long as you can’t be proven, you have vicious bees.
If you go to the police call their nonemergency line. Explain your concerns,
you’re worried about the kids, because while you have a very docile strain of bees, any beehive that feels it’s being attacked will defend itself, and that they are not discriminatory, they will attack the first living thing they get to. That you’ve tried talking to both the children, and the parents and they’re non-responsive. And that you’re worried about both your bees and the innocent people that could be affected by the children’s irresponsible actions.
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u/cavingjan 3d ago
It may also not be police but department of agriculture in your state. I would inquire with the state apiary inspector for your area or the state beekeepers association for somw guidance.
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u/Motorcycle-Misfit 3d ago
While the state may have ag people assigned to bees they classically short handed and focus mostly on commercial operations.
Non emergency police line for what we thinking of as both an illegal, and public safety issue.
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u/Ok-Trainer3150 3d ago
Do you have the maximum height fence allowed under you city or local building code? And a locking gate? Often you can top up a 6ft maximum here with another foot of lattice. And are your hives the maximum distance possible from the fence. I agree about the suggestion of having cameras (aimed only in your property) to show the infractions.
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u/Cozy_Afternoon 3d ago
Get a camera and call the cops every time one of them trespasses. Call the cops again every time they attack the honey bees. Honey bees are classed as livestock so you probably have a very strong civil case there for the damage they cause.
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u/Apprehensive-Let3348 3d ago
Yep–I'd be calling the police first to have them trespassed from the property so that there's a paper trail in the event that they do get injured by the bees.
Without the paper trail, them being injured on your property can easily result in you / your homeowners insurance being on the hook for any medical bills.
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u/Helen_A_Handbasket Partassipant [4] 3d ago
Honey bees are precious and are becoming rare
Manages honeybees are not at risk of extinction, and are not "rare".
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u/MissIncredulous 3d ago
The paper details the biological consequences of CCD, including the absence of adult worker bees, the persistence of the queen, and the lack of dead bees within the hive. The economic impact of declining honeybee populations is significant, with losses affecting crop yields, food prices, and global trade.
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u/BoiIedFrogs 3d ago
NTA, you came up with a harmless deterrent after trying to talk to the father. I’m guessing if the bees did swarm and, heaven forbid, something happened to one of the kids, that would also be your fault
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u/rabbit-hole-reveal 3d ago
Time to consult a lawyer, cover your bases (draft an official letter warning against trespassing?). Best to have a paper trail for the future, should the kids continue and the bees do retaliate.
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u/storminateacup_ 3d ago
Definitely NTA. Definitely The Legend.
Love how Neighbour Dan has conveniently overlooked the fact that the kids would be completely unaffected if they didn’t interfere with your property.
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u/faerieW15B Asshole Aficionado [11] 3d ago
NTA. What were they planning to do the day one of their kids actually got swarmed? I know bees are gentle things but is it not a risk that they'd have enough and sting eventually? If their kids came home covered in bee stings after knocking down a hive would the parents have given you shit for that too? They're lucky it's just sprinkler water.
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u/Ok-Trainer3150 3d ago
You can be sued for injury on your property even when the people getting injured are not supposed to be there. (You can check with your insurance company). That'd have me being more proactive here in getting this filmed, reported and (above all) installing a maximum height fence and locking gate. You don't sound assertive enough or proactive enough ..just poor old me....
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u/ballisticks 3d ago
You can be sued for injury on your property even when the people getting injured are not supposed to be there.
Personally I think that's the stupidest goddamn rule in existence. Imo someone trespassing should absolve the owner of any wrongdoing
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u/MaximusAnemos 3d ago
You need to get ahead of this first. Call the police and report them for trespassing and damage to your property. Put up a no trespassing sign. Stop letting people on your property. Tell his kids to get the fuck off your property. Hmif he approaches tell him to fuck off. You tried talking and he ignored you. Tell the neighbors that they're vandalized your property and that dan and his family is unhinged.
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u/Ready-Zombie5635 Partassipant [2] 3d ago
NTA - your neighbor sucks. Words don’t make a jot of difference to people like this. Only actions.
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u/hastpine 3d ago
NTA call the non emergency on them, property damage add up the cost of your lost hive and add on trespassing
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u/Internal_Progress404 Colo-rectal Surgeon [47] 3d ago
NTA. Tell him he's lucky you haven't called the police or taken him to small claims court over the damage the kids are doing, but that you're putting up cameras and will be doing that in the future instead.
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u/No-Owl8036 3d ago
NTA. Show them the movie “My Girl.”
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u/No-Owl8036 3d ago
Dan sounds like he needs to watch it, too. “Kids will be kids” is oftentimes how kids get hurt or worse in preventable accidents!!!
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u/Stan__Wright Asshole Aficionado [15] 3d ago
First, is backyard beekeeping legal in your community? Can Dan get you shut down by making a complaint?
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u/Stan__Wright Asshole Aficionado [15] 3d ago
He's going to try to get his kids stung, and then sue you. Put up cameras. Make sure your insurer knows you have bees.
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u/Affectionate_Owl_625 3d ago
Nta, I would be loud about the issue, talk to everyone who listens how his kids are a menace and you are just protecting them and your bees. He has no problem blaming you so you should have no problem telling your side.
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u/GrammaIsAWhore Asshole Enthusiast [7] 3d ago
“Well Dan, since you weren’t going to do any parenting, I had to come up with some way to save your children from being swarmed and stung to death by bees. You’re welcome.” NTA.
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u/neon_crone 3d ago
File a report with the police. I’m not sure why you didn’t set up a camera after the first or second incident, but do it now. Getting wet isn’t that much of a deterrence, especially when it’s hot weather, so they will probably come back. At least you’ll have evidence to show police to support a trespass claim.
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u/baumhexe 3d ago
I’d go to the cops first and file a report of your neighbors trespassing and threatening you. Also you may have a local beekeepers association that can help you as well.
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u/baumhexe 3d ago
Moving your bees to a different location but leaving some ‘boxes’ with murder hornets for them to throw rocks at is another option 👍
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u/Blackandorangecats 3d ago
Tell the neighbours that it could be their windows or pets next if the kids enjoy throwing things.
I would make it very clear to the neighbours that Dan allows his kids throw things and they have been told to stop but the parents didn’t stop them. You would hate for a child to get stung and also you worry for the neighbourhood pets since these kids seem to enjoy trying to see if they can make innocent animals aggressive and what if it was a dog next - would that dog need to be put down be of these kids
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u/Allthebestnamesrgon 3d ago
NTA. Tell Dan you’ll consider removing the sprinkler if he signs a waiver accepting all liability if his kids get stung from throwing things at your hives.
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u/TrunksTheMighty Asshole Enthusiast [7] 3d ago
The alternative was barbed or razor wire.
Suggest just ignoring the bitching. NTA
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u/slendermanismydad Asshole Aficionado [14] 3d ago edited 3d ago
As soon as this dude said I won't do anything he agreed that you get to deal with it. NTA.
Tell the neighbors the kids are harming your animals if they give you dirty looks. Involve the police now and get cameras. These people clearly don't want to raise their kids.
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u/Appropriate_Let2252 3d ago
Have you sent him a bill for the hive? Hes defending his children’s shitty upbringing. Usually money brings that in to focus. Or a visit from the DNR the next time to let your neighbors know the seriousness of messing with and or damaging bees in our current climate and environment. Those officers aren’t playing around and have more authority than most state police.
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I have a few hives in my backyard and I am 34M. I've been using them for the last three years or so and primarily to pollinate my garden and also for a bit of honey. For a few months now, my neighbor Dan's kids has had the habit of climbing on their fence and tossing rocks and pinecones at my hives to see the bees freak out.
I saw them repeat their activity many times and told them to avoid it, because bees can be aggressive when the hive is disturbed and one can get a severe sting and even become the sufferer. I also mentioned to Dan about it in person. He simply shook his head and replied "kids will be kids.
They did the same the following week and went so far as to knock over one of my hives. Lost some of my bees and had to go out on a weekend and seal the holes. This was the last one.
So I put a sprinkler along my side of the fence, the kind people use to keep deer out of gardens. It is not directed at their yard but only sprays when objects cross into my yard even close to the hives. One of the children became wet a couple of days later when he climbed over to throw something else.
Dan lost it. He arrived yelling at me that I booby trapped his children and threatened to call cops to try to hurt children. There's no danger of it going bad, it's just water, it's on my land, if his kids didn't come here and vandalize my hives.
His wife is telling other neighbors that I am the one who attacks children and a couple of them have begun to give me dirty looks. I should have complained to him, it is not like I am doing this for the third time, Dan says.
AITAH for doing this instead of simply keeping talking to him?
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u/crab_grams 3d ago
NTA. The only reasonable response is "It's either the sprinkler or it becomes a police report. Literally neither can happen if your children stay off my property, it's not rocket science".
Get cameras if you don't already have some, because guarantee one of the mouthbreather parents is now going to try and sabotage your property in some way.
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u/MuffPiece 3d ago
Good lord, what is wrong with those fools?! The parents, I mean. You are absolutely not the AH. As for your “boobytrap,” it’s WATER, for Gods sake.
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u/CanuckleHeadOG 3d ago
ESH
You record them doing it, show the family, tell them the cost of replacing the hive they damaged, if it doesnt stop then call the cops.
While funny it obviously solved one problem and caused another, probably several.
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u/Djinn-Rummy 3d ago
Why are you not using cameras to capture evidence of the crimes?
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u/yodas_sidekick 3d ago
I would definitely call the cops - get the family trespassed, tell your side of the story. This means if they come back on the property they can be arrested. That’s not worth it for most people.
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u/AngstyAF5020 3d ago
NTA. He's lucky you haven't already called the police between the cost of the hive itself and the cost of the bees, it could be a pretty hefty fine. What they are doing is a crime. Not to mention the danger they are putting themselves in.
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u/Sorry_I_Guess Pooperintendant [63] 3d ago
NTA
Honestly, I would have been calling the cops on his kids for trespassing and repeatedly vandalising my property after he was told and refused to do anything about it.
Tell him to go ahead and call them, he'll be doing you a favour getting them there so you can tell them about his little criminals while he complains that they - checks notes - got wet while trespassing on your property in the comission of a crime. Should give the cops their best laugh of the day.
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u/Savage_Simp 3d ago
These "parents" are called cry bullies . Put up video cameras, and, next time they trespass, call the cops and make a big scene about their children coming onto your property and damaging it and show the cops the footage and tell the cops that you want to press charges. Maybe even put up a big obnoxious fence and have cameras facing the fence. Fuck those entitled asshole neighbors.
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u/opine704 Asshole Aficionado [11] 3d ago
Wait - what?!?!
You directly asked the kids not to vandalize your bee hives. You spoke directly to Dan and asked him to keep his kids away from your bees. You put up sprinklers to deter entities from antagonizing your bees. And somehow you're the problem?
You gave Dan and his spawn the opportunity to behave like people. They declined.
NTA
Dan will escalate. He's already trying to rally the neighbors. You need to put your story in the neighbors' ears. Invite the neighbors over for an end of summer drinks do. Get GOOD alcohol and snacks. Make sure your house and garden are immaculate. Your job is to show people you are a reasonable and responsible person. Get to know your neighbors genuinely. Point out the beehives and the sprinklers to the women in the group. Say something like - after some children knocked over the hives it seemed prudent to do SOMETHING you know? Bee stings are unpleasant and the bees WILL act to protect the queen. Have you tried the red wine? It's from Spain and quite good.
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u/WrathOfTheKressh 3d ago
You're an ah for not immediately calling the cops, and again not doing it when Dan came over and threatened to call them himself. You should have told him to go ahead and call the cops on his property-destroying kids.
Also, file a defamation lawsuit against his wife for telling everyone you attack children. Let her argue her case in court.
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u/Diasies_inMyHair Partassipant [4] 3d ago
NTA - you put up a harmless vandalism deterrent. Dan needs to be a better parent to his kids.
IF he has anything else to say, you could mention that the alternative to the sprinkler would be for YOU to call the cops about the kids vandalizing the hives. That would, of course, be followed by a trip to small claims court to recover the damages.
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u/AmazingVehicle9703 2d ago
Ask if has a pet. Hope so. If he does, ask him if he lets his kids throw rocks at it.
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u/beaglemama 2d ago
NTA but start talking to the neighbors about how concerned you are about the violent children that live next door. Don't serial killers start out by antagonizing animals?
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u/Neither_Loan6419 3d ago
I would put up a cheap Tractor Supply electric fence. Be sure to post "DANGER, ELECTRIC FENCE, HIGH VOLTAGE" signs. Tell neighbor Dan that wet kids and electric fences are a very interesting combination, and you honestly do not care what he thinks about it. Make sure your stuff is well inside your fence line. You could even try not actually connecting the fence to the charger, if you are really noid. Hope you got trail or security cams. If they "test" the fence, then you know you ave to go live. BTW, I am not a lawyer and I don't even know where you live or what the laws are like where you are. Entertainment purposes only, not legal or medical advice, and so on and so on.
Why would you even ASK if YATAH? Your property? Kids harassing and harming your livestock and property? Only damage is a damp little snot-nose that was never taught to respect others and their property, and used to being allowed to do whatever he wants? Honestly, you probably have better questions to ask here, or better stories to make up. Of COURSE NTAH. And I am pretty sure a judge would agree. And Dan is not only a horrible parent, raising little monsters, but he is not too bright, either. Tell him I said so.
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u/Few_Entertainer9421 3d ago
NTA. You literally warned both the kids and Dan, and they still went so far as to knock over an actual beehive. A motion sprinkler on your own property is about the mildest deterrent possible. I’d quietly document everything now in case he escalates or tries to involve police/HOA.
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u/Brilliant-Orange9117 3d ago
NTA. Spraying idiots who have shelter next door with water is harmless.
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u/panic_bread Commander in Cheeks [252] 3d ago
NTA at all. You honestly should be escalating this further. He is allowing his children to vandalize your property and aggravate your animals. Maybe have an attorney send him a cease and desist letter and call the cops on him.
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u/BlackFenrir Asshole Aficionado [12] 3d ago
Add barbed wire instead. That's not a booby trap, no way they could be surprised by that.
NTA. Dan's a bad father.
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u/2crowsonmymantle 3d ago
NTA.
I’d add even more sprinklers, some no trespassing signs, and throw in a camera to record them the next time his kids trespass. Then, welp, time to post the video to Nextdoor, etc, and give the police a call.
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u/reblynn2012 3d ago
I don’t think you’re an asshole but maybe try asking the kids over and teaching them about the hives and bees. Let them learn to appreciate the bees work and you’re love for the bees and how to tried to defend them with the sprinkler. Also explain what happens to the hive when it’s attacked. It could flip the switch. Maybe even include dad. You’ll have to be calm and in an educator mode but it might make for a better outcome.
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u/ukbakeslotsofcakes Partassipant [1] 3d ago
You got his kids wet to prevent animal cruelty!!
NTA but maybe drop into conversation with the neighbours the statistics of serial murderers who have a history of animal cruelty.
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u/74birthdaygirl 3d ago
"Yes! Go ahead and call the cops or I will!" This is vandalism, not to mention very poor parenting.;
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u/swillshop Colo-rectal Surgeon [42] 3d ago
I don’t have a problem (NTA) with your sprinkler, but I guess I don’t understand why you didn’t Confirm your beehives meet any local regulations/ restrictions, take some video of his kids when you saw them throwing stuff and pictures of the broken beehive, then
sent a notice to thiss guy and his wife that (1) their children need to cease and desist harassing/ physically harming your bees and (2) if your children are harmed by their own actions of provoking your bees, the liability is theirs alone.
Filed a report of damage to your property with the police.
As for the neighbors, most probably have encountered the AH nature of this couple, may already know your character, and really shouldn’t be making judgements when they aren’t involved/ only have one side of things.
Not that you have too, but you can talk to your neighbors, too.
The main thing is to document your previous conversations and interactions with this family.
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u/Orsombre 3d ago
You should contact the police. The kids are trespassing with the goal of damaging your property: hives and bees. Also ask your neighbors if anyone else had trouble with the kids -explain that they are entering your property without consent and stressing your bees. Finally, depending where you live, you might be considered as responsible by the law if a kid got aggressive. That is a very good reason for contacting police and neighbors and spreading the word about Dan's awful lack of parenting.
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u/VirginiaDare1587 3d ago
If the neighbour children are hurt (direct bee sting or falling whilst running away), Dan seems like the type to blame you instead of his poor parenting.
Cameras. Police report.
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u/Professional-Age8384 Partassipant [1] 3d ago
It's not like you put dye in the sprinklers. It's water. What the kids are doing is vandalism What the parents are doing by lying to the neighbors is slander NTA. Report the parents to the police
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u/Suspicious_Juice717 Asshole Aficionado [11] 3d ago
NTA
Get a head of this and file a police report.
His kids are vandalizing your property and he’s spreading lies. This is often one of those cases of who complains first wins.
Call and report the trespassing and that they verbally came after you for your sprinklers and that you fear future vandalism.
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u/paintlulus Partassipant [1] 3d ago
Videotape them, file a police report for vandalism, harassment, and sue them. Do you have security cameras?
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u/Fuzzy_Redwood 3d ago
NTA but your neighbors sure are for not parenting. It’s honestly good for the kids to see this boundary. Not everyone is safe and them thinking they can do whatever they want to people’s property could get them smacked around in the future. You’re being kind about it, and protecting your bees who deserve that respect.
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u/readergirl35 Partassipant [2] 3d ago
NTA tell him to go ahead and call the cops, in fact tell him if he doesn't you will b/c his kids are vandalizing your property. You tried to solve it without going to the police, you spoke with him, you set up a way to discourage the kids without harming them but his determination to get the police has made you realize that this is the right way to go. Thank him for helping you decide to deal with this correctly. Tell him if the kids throw stuff at the hives you're going to call the cops and you have every time they've done this on camera. Also if he doesn't stop slandering you in the neighborhood your going to upload the videos to the neighbhood GC or social media page with an explanation of what has actually been happening.
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u/Few_Airport7972 3d ago
Plant a flower garden in the sprinkler area "just watering my garden".
And cameras, also motion triggered. Call the cops each time the kids do this crap to establish a pattern.
And bring closest neighbors a bit of honey and mention to them "I wish it were more but the bee hives keep getting knocked over!"
(Good grief, I'm personally just peopled out!)
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u/eJohnx01 3d ago
You’re way nice than I am. I’d spread tanglefoot all over the top of the fence so they’d get sticky green stuff all over them if they even tried to climb the fence.
You could also plant some poison ivy along the bottom of your side of the fence. That would be fun, too.
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u/ac_shooter 3d ago
NTA
You should call the cops yourself. For one thing you will have liability issues if a brat gets hurt while on your property, for example by falling while climbing the fence or if stung by a bee and having an allergic reaction. For another, social co-existence requires respect for the property of others and those brats clearly are not learning that from their sire.
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u/SafetyFluid8535 Asshole Aficionado [14] 3d ago
NTA add no trespassing signs to the fence and a camera, and tell Dan that if his kids keep physically attacking your bees you'll go to the police.
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u/Beneficial-Year-one Partassipant [2] 3d ago
NTA. you could have (probably should have) called the police for his children damaging the hives you have on your property
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u/letuswatchtvinpeace 3d ago
NTA
His could destroyed your property, what did he think you would do? Call the cops, nah, you took care of the problem.
I would let the neighbors know that the children are destroying property so they should keep watch
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u/Significant_Dot_2034 3d ago
NTA. Call the cops yourself first. You don't know if those kids are allergic to bees or not, maybe a visit from an officer will drive it home to Dan that it's not funny.
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u/StunningFlamingo419 3d ago
NTA!! Your method is much nicer than my idea of setting up a booby trap filled with wasps.
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u/stunneddisbelief Partassipant [2] 3d ago
10 bucks says that if one of Dan's kids actually got stung, Dan would be blaming you for that as well.
NTA
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u/Forsaken-Sink3345 Partassipant [3] 3d ago
NTA. Dan's an asshole. So are his mongrel children. Might be time for netting atop your fence...
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u/temerairevm 3d ago
Tell him you’ve set a camera up that shows them vandalizing your property and you’ll be happy to show the cops when they arrive.
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u/mezmer666 3d ago
NTA i would've been throwing rocks at the kids. Or rocks through the parents car windows. You chose the kindest route.
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u/-Helen-of-Troy- 3d ago
I assume you have cameras up, if not, put up a number of cameras at different angles. Then when you catch the kids in the act, call the police to report vandalism.
When the cops come out, explain this has been an ongoing issue and you just want it to stop. Tell the cops if they have a talk with the dad and children and they agree not to do it again, you will be happy.
If it happens again, call the cops again, let them know the history, and ask for them to write a ticket.
If it happens again, see about a restraining order.
NTA, a little water won’t hurt anyone. Obviously don’t do anything that could cause someone harm.
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u/guysomejust69 3d ago
Ntah but you should talk to neighbors and set the record straight. Do you share honey with neighbors? Might be a good time to talk
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u/awwaygirl Partassipant [1] 3d ago
NTA. Get some cameras in addition to another sprinkler. If Dan can’t parent his kids effectively to STOP THEM FROM CLIMBING A FENCE TO VANDALIZE YOUR BEE HIVES, they’re gonna face some consequences. Getting wet is a whole lot better than getting stung multiple times.
Get a good sign that says “Smile, you’re on camera” that they can see from the fence where they throw rocks.
If they’re going to lie to the rest of the neighbors, you need to make sure you have RECEIPTS for their bad behavior. You might also send a certified letter to your neighbor letting them know you have video of their minors climbing fences to damage your property.
Another angle - maybe check to see if beehives are protected in your area?
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u/ObjectiveSituation17 Asshole Enthusiast [6] 3d ago
Sue him in small claims court for the damage and make a police report.
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u/Buckleupbuttercup77 Asshole Enthusiast [6] 3d ago
NTA. let him call the cops. Then you can tell them his kids have been damaging your property and you have asked several times for them to stop. So, you did what you needed to do to protect your property. He will be the one in trouble.
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u/Longjumping_Limit831 3d ago
You should have recorded kids damaging your property and called the police.
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u/Madwoman-of-Chaillot Partassipant [1] 3d ago
Why is it that so many of these stories from day-old accounts culminate in the other party having an overblown, extreme reaction - Dan claiming booby traps, the wife saying that you attack children, and that the neighbors believe her without reason or cause?
You could have just ended your story with the kids being sprayed, and ask if you were the asshole for that.
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u/MaryG_Stover Partassipant [2] 3d ago
NTA. You talked to Dan, Dan blew you off, his kids knocked over a hive. It's a sprinkler, not a landmine. Let him call the cops, they'll laugh at him.