Bob Said: I guess I might as will break the news. Big bee losses coming from Alberta and Saskatchewan with spring unwrapping.



My source said reports have been as high as 80-90% losses.



Long cold winter blamed?



Medhat?

Bob: All it depends on who is making the news. In southern Alberta where snow is gone winter kill is about average 15% ranging from 4-20%. This is normal for this region. As you go north, we still have 1-2 feet of snow on the ground and it is stubbornly cold to open hives 2-3 C. Early reports from those who accessed their hives 10-20% with few exception of above 30% winter kill. Survived colonies over all are in good shape. In my mite farm where I keep mite infested colonies for research, I lost 50%. It is only 100 hives and I expected this rate or even higher for bee kill.



Yes we did experience a cold long winter. Also 2013 winter had periods of high temperatures for few days  that melted snow and created ice sheets, then more snow accumulated. It kept going like this for long time. If colonies are covered with snow and this ice layer, bees would suffocate. It is a  spotty  pattern of winterkill. Some yards with 100% survival and others with high kill. Hard to draw a conclusion. It also depends on the apiary location if protected from snow drift or not. All of these reports for outdoors wintered colonies and it has to be investigated on case by case bases.



In door wintering, many  guys have a good luck this year. Again I would not generalize. Many guys are happy. I was visiting an operation in north west 2 weeks ago and checked in an indoor facility 800 of 6 frames nucs. Winterkill was less than 2%.

For sure when a beekeeper losses bees it breaks everyone's heart. The question is finding possible cause and work on them to avoid them in the future. The only thing that we can't control through any technology is the weather. I will update you once we have more access to bees and let you know. Welcome to the Great White North.



Medhat



17507 Fort Road NW

Edmonton, AB T5Y 6H3 Canada

Tel: 780-415-2314             Fax: 780-422- 6096

E-mail:  [log in to unmask]



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