If you have a bee or wasp problem, call me, Lloyd Ziegler at 918-850-3820. I have been serving Tulsa in this regard for over 23 years. All work is totally guaranteed. I am glad to give you advice, or a free estimate, over the phone. We also offer a low-price guarantee on bee or wasp removal!
Thanks for your time,
--Lloyd Ziegler
About Me
My name is Lloyd Ziegler. I first became acquainted with Bees in Sierra Leone, West Africa, while serving with the U.S. Peace Corps in 1972. A friend of mine needed help removing bees from a tree, since he had lost his good arm in an accident. He was of the "Bee Clan", i.e. his totem animal was the honeybee. I remember cutting the tree down with an axe, plunging my hands into the hole where the hive was, and removing gobs and clumps of bees with my bare hands. I received no stings at all. This, despite a total lack of protection (dressed in only shorts), while all the others in the visible area were yelling, running, and swatting at their hair, as they were being viciously attacked.
I knew nothing about bees then, and just assumed that my friend knew what he was doing (which he obviously did!) and that everything would be fine. Ah, the naivety of youth, which in this case served me well. I think these were the infamous African "Killer" bees, by the way. Anyway, this fond memory stuck in my mind, and a few years later I began keeping bees in the National Forest of Arkansas. I have been keeping them ever since. I make my living primarily by removing beehives from buildings in the NE Oklahoma area, and also from selling honey, pollen, and beehives. Presently, I live near Mannford, OK, and have beehives there, and also in Sand Springs.
My Bees
I have less than 100 beehives, which lets me spend a lot of attention on each hive. I have found that beekeeping is unique, in that every aspect of it is beneficial to the planet and the creatures that live on it. There is no destruction of habitat at all; the soil is enriched, rather than depleted; agriculture is enhanced in many ways; and people benefit greatly from the many hive products. It seems more than coincidence that the things that bees produce are ALL beneficial to man. I have been employed in many fields in my life, from logging to teaching, but beekeeping has been one which seems to have absolutely no negative effects on the planet, only positive ones. I support it fully, and am glad to give support to anyone who wants to begin keeping bees. To this end I give talks to schools and libraries about honeybees (aided by a large glass observation hive), sell beehives to interested folks, and mentor new beekeepers whenever possible.
My Family
I have one living son, Wren Ziegler, a gifted artist both on paper and in sound, who lives in Tulsa. My mother live in Nashville, TN and you can see a photo in the picture gallery of my Mom being brave, holding a frame of hundreds of bees with no protection at all. She has grit, but also knows that my bees are gentle.
My Work With LIDEFO
My most recent overseas work with bees involved going to Uganda with my son Wren and his friend Saji. More specifically, we worked in the the Rwenzori Mountains, teaching advanced beekeeping to the Lhukonzo people, and also in the nearest town Kasese on developing the beekeeping branch of LIDEFO. The bees were Apis Mellifera Scutella, which is the meanest of the already-vicious African Bees. Quite a trip! We got to live with the people: mud houses, dirt floors and no water...and yet some of the finest people I have ever met. We are actively connected to LIDEFO, which is Liberty Development Foundation. My local club, NEOBA, has made LIDEFO a sister club. LIDEFO is worth supporting if you are so inclined. I am hoping to raise enough money to return there for a longer period; there is so much more that could be done. They don't even have smokers or veils for most members, yet they work these ill-tempered bees despite the stings! I saw one woman get about 50 stings on the face--but she did not give up even then. I think they deserve a little help. My intention is to get them to the point where they are a self-sustaining organization, supported by their own honey sales. You can Google "LIDEFO" and learn more (and see some neat videos we took of "killer" bees and beautiful kids), or just call me at 918-850-3820. Recent talks at the local bee clubs, NEOBA, resulted in over $900 in donations! I'll post a few pictures from the trip (see the "photos" page on this website). Also,there are some videos on my facebook profile
I hope you enjoy this site, and learn to appreciate honeybees and what they do more than ever.
About LIDEFO
From LIDEFO.org-
The Liberty Development Foundation (LIDEFO) is a community based non-government organisation founded in 2002 in Uganda, by a group of men and women in Kasese Town Council, Kasese District to address the challenges of poor education and socio-economic incompetence which were rampant. LIDEFO is a membership organisation which currently has thirty five members from Kasese Town Council, Kilembe and Mahango sub-counties.
LIDEFO's aim is to unlock the potentials of people, improving their lives through training and education; empowering them as individuals with skills that will improve their economic status and strengthen participatory development.
LIDEFO has been established to support practices that accelerate the progress of human development with a view to eradicate poverty, achieve equitable and sustained economic growth, and capacity building. All LIDEFO technical support, advocacy, and contributions are aimed at strengthening coherence in rural and urban development, and the achievement of real improvements in people's lives.
Central to the human development approach is the concept of human empowerment, which in addition to generating income, provides a means to accessing education and health care, a respect for diversity and protection from violence. In addition, the preservation of the environment is fundamental to LIDEFO and the well-being of the community.
Read more about LIDEFO's bee keeping project here