BeeFarmer wrote: > My bees are bringing sack fulls here in Ohio... but it isn't pollen... the > neighbors cattle feed and hog feed is being gathered. Our bees have been actively gathering pollen for over a month now. Skunk cabbage, maple and crocus and henbit. Our spring report is 11 out of 11 hives are strong. Unfortunately, many of our local club's beekeepers (now I understand why George calls some beehavers) have lost many hives. Actually, those that lost bees (some all of their hives) may be relying upon the advice of a beehaver. Someone had heard someone, somewhere state that tracheal mites are no longer a big problem. So many of these gentlemen did not treat with menthol last year. We are currently in the midst of an ongoing renovation. Dave set up his cut-off saw outside the back door so he wouldn't have to trek up and down basement steps for each board. The first day there were a couple bees hanging around and we thought nothing of it because they have been actively checking out anything that moves or doesn't move. Second day, more bees. Now on this 6th day, bees are all over the table and the saw. They are packing the pine sawdust into their little pollen baskets. Not just one or two bees, but at least 20 at a time are on the saw and the others are going to and fro or unloading. If they use this to patch all the cracks in their respective hives, well, maybe we won't need to replace any equipment this year. Judy in Kentucky, USA