Bees gather on a partially empty hive at an apiary at Maria Pinto town, some 53 km northwest of Santiago April 18, 2011. The La Nina weather front in Chile is causing a decline in the country's bee population and the honey harvest has consequently fallen by some 60 to 70 percent, according Chile's National Beekeeping Association. Drought conditions alter the flowering patterns of plants, affecting the availability of nectar, which in turn makes survival harder for bees. Picture taken April 18, 2011. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado (CHILE - Tags: AGRICULTURE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT FOOD) (Reuters)
Beekeeper Tip Sempliner wants the city of New York to buzz off.
The Department of Health reportedly gave Sempliner a $2,000 citation for not watering his beehive, despite the fact that the water dish was mere feet away from the hive.
"I feel sorry for the inspector," Sempliner told CBS News. "I thought we should probably buy him some glasses."
Sempliner, who lives close to several fresh water ponds and a bay in the borough of Queens, said even if the bees couldn't find the dish, there was plenty of water nearby.
He called the situation "outrageous."
Fines like these are a good way to generate the money for the cash strapped city, said CBS News.
Daniel Halloran, a Queens Councilman agreed, saying, "This is another example of the city going out of it's way to collect revenue at the expense of our citizens."
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