At 10:35 AM 1/30/2004, you wrote:
>1) Are the dead bees on the snow a normal phenomenon?

Yes it is fairly normal.  I've seen bees make short flights when it's as
cold as 16F.  Just this past weekend in fact I saw many taking a short
flight, It was calm and very sunny, but still a cold 16F.  Many made it
back as I watched, but not all were as lucky as evident from a few dead in
the snow.  It's not unusual as they will make sort flights on cold days to
evacuate themselves, though I have never seen them do it when it was this
cold before.

Ousting the mouse without disturbing the cluster might be difficult.  If
you can't simply do it by sticking something in the entrance I'd wait till
it's at least above freezing (and preferably sunny and calm).  Then I'd
feel safe doing a quick manipulation with help (ie. lifting the whole hive
intact onto another bottom board leaving the mouse and the old bottom
board).   You just can't do major manipulations without chilling the
bees/brood.  (ie. quickly lifting the cover to put in a pollen patty or
food should be ok.  I've even installed queens in splits (made on the
previous much warmer day) when it was only 32F with good success).

-Tim

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