Jiří Moutelík * 17.8.1961 – 26.8.2020
Anyone who starts with bumblebees once easily falls for them. It can really become a lifelong hobby and you can become completely captivated by it.
It's a very useful hobby, though time-consuming and full of adrenaline and endorphins. Its usefulness lies in the fact that it also involves helping nature, to which we owe so much.
Bumblebee breeders take care of their bumblebees much like other people care for their pets. They pay close attention and give them care, and get worried when things aren't right. It must be fairly admitted that sometimes this comes at the expense of family and partners. For breeders, it's a joy when their loved ones understand and patiently support their passion. This isn't always the case, nor is it a given, but if the entire breeder's family is passionate about nature conservation, then it works out and it's wonderful.
Sometimes time and life are relentless. Unfortunately, even something beautiful comes to an end, and sometimes prematurely. That's the beauty of life – its transience. Those who realise this know how to enjoy life to the fullest while there is still time, with a beautiful hobby like beekeeping.
One such breeder was Mr Jiří Moutelík, who sadly left our earthly human and bumblebee world in August 2020.
My husband Jiří
Photograph by M. Moutelíková
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Jiří was a passionate breeder and so he threw himself into everything with gusto.
His work was demanding. He sailed as a captain across the Czech Republic and Europe on cargo ships, so he was often away. Despite being away from home, he was with his family and still in contact. If it was bumblebee season, he never forgot to ask about them – how they were doing.
Some breeders remember him calling them from aboard his ship, discussing breeding topics with them to the sound of the waves.
He kept bumblebees in the village of Chramostek.
Photograph by M. Moutelíková
And after finishing his voyages on cargo ships, he remained loyal to the water and ships. This was when he worked on the survey ship Valentýna. This special ship takes care of safe river navigation – it measures the riverbed's profile and marks a safe route on the ever-changing riverbeds in the Czech Republic.
Survey ship Valentina II.
Vltava River Basin Photos
In the spring of 2012, he decided he wanted to be closer to nature. He bought a mobile caravan. In it, he spent his weekends with his wife in Chramostek, so they could be closer to nature… and also with the first three bumblebee nests.
The mayor of Lužec nad Vltavou (to which Chramostek belongs) allowed him to place his new home on the edge, near a field. There, as a proper keeper, he took care not only of the bumblebees and their nests, but also of their food and nesting opportunities. He maintained the entrusted area, sowing it with grass, bee-friendly plants, and bushes. In this way, he created a small bumblebee paradise.
There was always something to repair and paint.
Photograph by M. Moutelíková
Like any other beekeeper, he waited impatiently for spring to arrive outside his window, and then he couldn’t contain himself. He had to go out with a net or a jar to catch bumblebees.
Especially when queen wasps appeared looking for nesting sites, he spent long hours observing them, as well as settling them.
He would report his successes and observations home, brimming with joy or anticipation as to how the next attempt would turn out. He knew full well that everything takes time, that even bumblebee queens need to be handled gently, and that rushing things is not the path to success. You could sense his enthusiasm and sheer joy.
There was no shortage of amusing incidents concerning bumblebees. For example, when a swarm of bees that had escaped from someone nearby settled in his empty hive. Fortunately, he had beekeeper friends around him who were happy to help him in such a situation.
He had a caravan in Chramostek for the weekend.
Photograph by M. Moutelíková
As Jiří gained experience, he established many contacts with other bumblebee keepers – bumblebee farmers. He consulted with them and shared his knowledge and experiences.
Naturally, the same thing happened to him as to any other „bombusophile“, meaning a bumblebee enthusiast, the numbers of his colonies subtly grew.
Most likely it was a materialisation of his „yearning“ in winter, which didn't let his nimble hands be idle. The officially admitted number of snails was 17.
But we beekeepers know how it is. I mean, how many hives we admit to having at home, and how many we’re able to conjure up at a moment’s notice from our hidden supplies if the need arises. Or we can quickly put them together when the season is going well and queen bees are swarming around you, looking for a place to rest their heads and wings…
Jiří was very fond of spending time in nature, and his family allowed him this, supporting him in it. Whenever possible, they would be there with him, along with their other pets – cats. The cats also understood him, so more or less patiently, they would wait until their owner paid attention to them again. As is known, cats are jealous of bumblebees and therefore were always keenly interested in what had captured his attention and when he would pay attention to them again.
Jiří had big plans and looked forward to being at home in retirement, no longer sailing far away. He wanted to dedicate himself fully to the bumblebees and equally to the bees. He wanted to expand the bumblebee paradise and help them.
But fate would have it otherwise, and so he didn't get to have a beekeeping career – he flew from this world sooner than he intended.
It's a shame to leave some pages of life unwritten, unfortunately it sometimes happens. Many pages have been written and they are filled with beautiful stories.
Jiří, thank you for the bumblebees and for everything you've done for them, we appreciate it!