Hello,

I just finished a list of all 50 states showing 
first records of bees in every state. 

The more recent additions were:

Alaska, which Eva Crane states in The World History 
of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting, Pg. 360
"bees were transported to Alaska in 1924" 

I uncovered an earlier account of bees in Alaska:
Yes, I am aware that the Russians were said to have 
kept bees in Alaska, but no written account is known
to exist.

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
August 27, 1913, Fairbanks, Alaska

Vining Brings in Two Hives of Bees

As part of the cargo brought to
Fairbanks by the steamer Alaska,
which arrived In port last night,
were two hives of bees.  The little
honey gatherers were brought North
by R. L. Vining, being the first ever
brought into the Interior. They are
for Mrs. Ed Wickersham and Mrs
Truxton.

=====

Eva Crane makes no mention of first arrival
of bees in the states of Montana, Idaho and 
North Dakota. However,  I did uncover some 
early references to bees in these states.

=====

Northern Dakota
In June of 1883, Isaac Staffer received a 
nucleolus sent from Illinois, and the bees 
were said to have increased at a lively rate.

=====

Montana
In 1872 Wm. D. Roberts brought, on a wagon,
thirty colonies of bees into Montana, to prove 
that bees can be kept in the mountains.  He
was last reported to be planning to do the 
same in Idaho, but no record has been located
related to this.

=====

Idaho
In 1878, H.Z. Burkhart wrote to Salt Lake City, 
Utah, and had a strong colony of hybrids 
(ordered Italians) forwarded by express, at 
a total cost of $27.25. They arrived in good 
condition April 17th.

Best Wishes,
Joe Waggle
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/HistoricalHoneybeeArticles/

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