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Thread: Suprises in Buckets

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Deposit, NY
    Posts
    106

    Default Suprises in Buckets

    This year's seasonally warm weather has resulted in all sorts of surprises in the buckets. I usually get moths every year but this year I've had moths, ants, spiders the size of quarters and most recently a dead mouse froze in about 3" of sap ice.

    Anybody else getting anything other than sap in their buckets?
    100-110 buckets
    Leader 7.5" 3 Bank filter press (2023)
    RO Bucket RB10 (2017) upgraded to RB20 (2020)
    Homemade oil tank arch
    Homemade stainless pans
    12x16 Sugar Shack (new 2020)

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Chesterfield MA
    Posts
    488

    Default

    This happened last Sunday. I was out back in the woods with the dog for a walk checking to see if anything was running. I slid the top off the bucket and a small gray squirrel decided to go for a 3 pointer and fell from a branch up above right into the bucket that only had about 1/2" of frozen sap in it. I almost pizzed my pants laughing LOL Who would have ever thought.

    He looked at me for a minute and when he came to his senses jumped out of the bucket and back up the tree he went LOL
    1st Year Turkey Fryer Guru-10 taps and No Clue
    2nd Year Warming Pans on a Barrel Unit-25 taps Still No Clue
    3rd Year 2 X 3 Divided Pan on a NEW Homemade Barrel Unit-45 taps Starting To Learn
    4th year (2017) Mason 2 X 3 Inside Small Shack-85 Taps I Think I'm Addicted!!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    North Grenville
    Posts
    1,477

    Default

    The occasional sap moth, small bugs, bark, and drowned mosquitoes are pretty much it. Though I have tons of red squirrels around I've never found one in a pail, and sure hope I don't!
    Been tapping since 2008.
    2018 - 17 taps/7 trees...819l sap, approx 28l syrup
    2019 - 18 taps/8 trees...585l sap, 28l syrup...21:1 ratio
    2020 - 18 taps/8 trees...890.04l sap...gave away about 170l, 30l snafu'd....23l total for me from approx 690l
    2021 - 18 taps/8 trees...395l sap, 12 l syrup
    2022 - 18 taps/8 trees....7 sugars 1 red due to #2 having surgery so had the season off....582l sap, 18.5l syrup
    2023 - 18 taps/8 trees...all sugars again. 807l sap, so far approx 14l syrup

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Landisburg, PA
    Posts
    249

    Default

    I've had moth, ants, flies, and tree dirt. Luckily no squirrels.
    2011 - 6 buckets
    Stove Top
    2012 - 15 buckets
    2013 - 19 buckets
    Camper cook stove with 3 high propane burners
    Custom made 42x14x7 maple pan with dividers
    2015 - New 12x16 Sugar Shack
    2015 - New Lapierre Propane Evaporator
    2016 - 28 buckets
    2017 - 30 buckets
    2019 - 32 buckets
    2023 - 32 buckets - Good to be back

    .

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    belmont new york
    Posts
    447

    Default

    i have had your usually insects, a couple of mice and 3 flying squirrels in the past. any way to die is bad but drowning must be one of the worst, always makes me feel bad when i find something in the buckets, i scoop the moths and spiders out and try to put them on a tree if they are alive.
    2008 700 ranger xp sap hauler/45 hp 4x4 tractor/028 super stihl
    2x4 mason hobby/blower/new for 2014 smoky lake hybrid pan
    2014 300ish buckets and still need bigger evaporator/14 x 20 square log shack
    2015 2x6 drop flue phaneuf approx. 325 buckets, 1 year older, not sure about the smarter part ?
    gets expensive in a hurry!!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Winfield, Iowa
    Posts
    397

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    Found 3 dead mice on seperate collections this season. Haven't seen that in the past. Usually just bugs. Ted

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Altamont, NY
    Posts
    588

    Default

    For the past two seasons we've had some weird weather resulting in several daytime temps over 60. I found several honeybees drinking the sweet sap in the buckets when we were emptying them. I'd pull them out and set them in the warm sun where they'd warm up, dry off, and fly back to their hive.

    Then again, not much of a surprise as the hives are within 50' of the buckets and 100' of the shack. It was pretty much an expectation.
    Leader WSE 2x6 w/hoods
    12"x20" Mason Finisher
    250 taps.. Majority on tubing
    14'x20' sugarshack
    Kubota RTV900XT
    Home built Auto Drawoff
    Leader MicRO 2 RO
    www.mallardpondmaple.com

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Potsdam in far northern New York
    Posts
    775

    Default

    I had a big, brown caterpillar today, and have no idea what sort of bug could be at that stage this time of year. At another location, I get little 2" long earthworms at some point every year....but how do they get into the buckets??

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Covington, New York
    Posts
    1,680

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael Greer View Post
    I had a big, brown caterpillar today, and have no idea what sort of bug could be at that stage this time of year. At another location, I get little 2" long earthworms at some point every year....but how do they get into the buckets??
    I get the worms once and a while too. Weird. Usually after heavy rains and all I can figure is they come up the bark.

    Ants have been HORRIBLE this year.

    Leaves seemed to be the problem of the day today. Lots and lots of leaves.
    Noel Good
    1998 to 2009: 15 taps on buckets, scavenged fire pit and pans
    2010: New 2x4 SS flat pan w/preheater
    2015: New to me Lapierre 18x60 raised flue, new shack, new everything!! 59 taps 23.75 gallons
    2016: 85 taps 19 gallons
    2017: Purchased 2.5 acres and tubed half with 3/16. 145 taps total 49.25 gallons
    2018: 200 taps (162 on 3/16ths 38 on buckets) New NextGen RO 63 gallons
    2019: 210 taps 73.5 gallons
    2023: 210 taps 89.75 gallons
    www.wnybass.com

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Up on Da Border Eh. Upstate NY
    Posts
    244

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by johnpma View Post
    This happened last Sunday. I was out back in the woods with the dog for a walk checking to see if anything was running. I slid the top off the bucket and a small gray squirrel decided to go for a 3 pointer and fell from a branch up above right into the bucket that only had about 1/2" of frozen sap in it. I almost pizzed my pants laughing LOL Who would have ever thought.

    He looked at me for a minute and when he came to his senses jumped out of the bucket and back up the tree he went LOL
    He was part of the Grey squirrel international diving team.
    Tap'em if ya got'em.

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