(Image Credit: CFJC News)

By Sydney Chisholm

BEES

Challenging times for new Kamloops-area beekeepers

Apr 6, 2023 | 4:45 PM

KAMLOOPS – About one-third of our food supply relies on honey bee pollination, yet bee populations are declining.

“Most of what we eat is downstream of their work,” Gary Martin, president of the Kamloops Beekeepers Club, explained. “I suspect they would outlast us. If it gets to a point where [we] are gone, they’ll probably survive. I don’t know about us.”

The majority of hive losses happen throughout the winter and are only seen once spring comes around and keepers open up their hives.

“The losses – overwintering bees — is always a problem it seems, and this winter seems to be worse,” Murray Willis, beekeeper and owner of Bee Plus, told CFJC News.

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A number of factors affect a colony’s survival rate, including mites, habitat, nutrition and pesticides.

In the winter, bees heat the hive by consuming honey and vibrating their wings.

According to Martin, frigid temperatures are rarely the sole reason for overwinter deaths, but more intense weather and climate change can leave a hive more valuable.

“We don’t have an easy climate for bees,” he said. “They can adapt but we are pushing the limits with them.”

Martin uses an insulated bee house to protect his hives. This year, he only had an eight per cent loss of bees, which is much better than the average loss of 30 per cent.

“Yeah that’s pretty good, I think,” he said. “Some beekeepers, they lose up to 50 per cent of their hives. Unfortunately, some lose all their hives. It fluctuates quite a bit.”

Because so many keepers are losing hives, especially on the Prairies, the demand for nucs – small, starter hives — has driven the price way up, nearly tripling in cost in the last decade.

Nowadays, a nuc goes for about $300-to-$350 and they go fast.

Willis said he has already sold out of bees this year.

This makes it harder for newbies to get into the hobby. Martin said the club has lost quite a few members. Currently, it has about 60. Prior to the pandemic, the Kamloops Beekeepers Club had more than 200 members.

Martin says though interested in attracting bees should consider planting some maple trees in their yard. Maple trees are often an early food source for local bees and they supply a lot of food.

Bees Plus+ and the Kamloops Beekeepers Club both hold field days to promote beekeeping in the area, those interested in getting up close and personal with a hive or learning about the importance of bees can reach out to the local club or attend one of these events.