LA City Council Takes Steps Toward Urban Beekeeping

The Los Angeles City Council looked at lifting the ban on backyard beehives Wednesday. Councilmembers unanimously approved a resolution to study the possibility of allowing urban beekeeping.

"Considering that the population of bees has dropped by about forty percent, there's no wonder that we are concerned not only about the well-being to our agriculture here in California, but also the economic impacts it may have," said Huizar.

Susan Rudnicki is an urban beekeeper in Manhattan Beach. She said she feels attached to the three hives she looks after.

"They do recognize their keeper, and they do recognize when something has been stolen from them," explained Rudnicki.

Some of people who live near backyards like Rudnicki's voiced their concerns of "killer bees."

Citycouncilmember Paul Kortez assured the public this was not the case. "The Africanized quote killer bees have mated with the native bees and the problem has been largely eliminated," said Kortez.

As of Wednesday, the city still bans beekeeping in backyards.