Jerry;

I am intrigued by the damp location hypothesis.  I maintain 8 outyards of
25 hives and have had these locations for 20 years.  I have had consistent
problems at 2 of the locations, both of which were shaded and one of which
is in a creek bottom valley.  I was able to clear the dense vegetation
around one of the problem yards and got better sunlight and air penetration
and I am seeing better survival there.  I think I had shade and cold/damp
air damming issues in that yard.  My criteria for a good location here in
the mid-Atlantic (North Carolina) include wind breaks from the north and
west wind and a site open to the south and east to get sunlight
penetration.  I try to hide my bees too to avoid vandals (usually hunters)
and theft so good locations are hard to find.

Bill Lord
Louisburg, NC
(just south of 'Sandy")

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