>>I am not wrapping the hives this winter because with recent observations I do not think the hives need wrapping. Seems to me that everyone up here in Canada, who winters outside, wraps their hives one way or another. Your wintering in Alaska, and I assume your winters are colder and longer than ours here in Manitoba. You are telling me that you are finding better results by not wrapping? My own opinion, is I don't beleive it to be true. I assume you have cold spells as we do, in fact I think our cold spells come from strong Alaskian Highs. I think the wrap is essential for the hives to tollerate such long cold dry conditions. And not all beeyards are sheltered, wraps are critical against the cold winter wind on the hive. Im new to beekeeping, 6 years in. And learnt by trial and error. I found that in my beeyards, the unwrapped or poorly wrapped hives suffured more losses, deadouts and small weak spring clusters. My thoughts are that the wrap is most effective in the late winter early spring period. It buffers the colonies against the late winter cold snaps we sometimes get when the colonies are starting to brood up. I also think sun heat absortion is very important. I feel that it is nessicary to allow the bees to lossen cluster to reorginize their stores. I think it allows them to prepaire for the next cold blast. I will be watching for your results, good or bad. Just a note, I winter in two chambers, ~170lbs feed up with corn surip. Hives wrapped with 4" fiberglass on sides and 6" on top, wrapped with tar paper. Works good for me, and managing cost about 3-5$/hive/winter Ian :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::