A Swarm of Bees Won’t Keep This Animal from Its Favorite Snack
Honey badgers, or ratels, are resilient animals that frequently raid beehives to consume honey and bee larvae. Their thick skin and loose fur allow them to withstand bee stings while they use powerful claws to dismantle hives.
Why it matters
Understanding this natural behavior helps beekeepers implement better protective measures, such as elevating hives, to reduce human-wildlife conflict.
© LM Gray/Shutterstock.com The post A Swarm of Bees Won't Keep This Animal from Its Favorite Snack appeared first on A-Z Animals .
A sticky situation is taking place in this Instagram post! The video shows a honey badger chomping away on a delicious-looking honeycomb . However, the badger is covered in bees who are desperately trying to defend their hive. We investigated the relationship between honey bees and honey badgers to better understand their dynamic.
Honey badgers, or ratels ( Mellivora capensis ), are part of the weasel family, so they are related to otters and other badgers, as well as weasels and wolverines . Despite its name, it does not raid hives for honey alone. It also eagerly seeks out nutrient-rich bee larvae and pupae found in the honeycomb, though honey is very much a prized part of the feast.
Honey badgers actually feed on bee larvae.
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