🚀 Monthly Beekeeping Activities:
Goal: Keep Colonies Safe and Stable Through Winter
By January, winter is fully settled in. Your bees are deep in cluster mode, relying solely on stored resources and the hive’s insulation. While hands-on work is minimal, beekeeper awareness remains important.
🍯 What the Bees Are Up To:
🧰 Beekeeper To-Do List:
🏔 Area-Specific Notes for Burke County:
By January, winter is fully settled in. Your bees are deep in cluster mode, relying solely on stored resources and the hive’s insulation. While hands-on work is minimal, beekeeper awareness remains important.
🍯 What the Bees Are Up To:
- Remaining tightly clustered to conserve heat
- Slowly consuming stored honey
- Producing little to no brood
- Briefly breaking cluster on warmer days (typically above ~50°F)
- Staying in full survival mode until early spring buildup begins
🧰 Beekeeper To-Do List:
- Do not open hives — breaking the cluster can chill bees and brood
- Heft hives from the back to assess food stores without opening
- Gently clear entrances of snow, ice, and dead bees to maintain airflow
- Inspect after storms for wind damage, shifted lids, or toppled equipment
- Confirm moisture control (moisture boards, ventilation shims, or quilt boxes) is functioning properly
- Secure lids with weights or straps against winter winds
- Maintain electric fencing — bears may still be active during mild spells
- Use downtime to review notes, plan spring expansions, and attend educational events such as BCBA meetings or workshops
🏔 Area-Specific Notes for Burke County:
- Higher elevations and foothill areas may experience extended snow, ice, and freeze–thaw cycles
- Moisture control is critical due to temperature swings common in Western NC
- Windbreaks are especially helpful for apiaries in exposed locations
- Emergency dry sugar feeding (sugar bricks or candy boards) may be used if hives feel unusually light
- Avoid liquid feeding during freezing weather
💔 Feeling the sting of winter losses?
You're not alone! At our March 2025 BCBA meeting, John conducted a survey. BCBA had a 43% response rate, with 16 out of 37 members participating. Unfortunately, several long-standing members did not provide their data, limiting the impact of our results.
Before Helene, the median and mode hive number per member was 3, indicating that our members are primarily hobbyists. Small apiaries can struggle with resources if a colony is in trouble, and some suggest having at least 4 colonies.
Winter loss data showed 6 members with zero losses and 6 members with over 40% losses.
Lewis Cauble and Willie Pascal have been hearing from many beekeepers who are wondering why their bees didn't make it through the winter. To help everyone out, we're sharing this video that addresses common issues and solutions. Check it out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWtSbVXqO_Y
Before Helene, the median and mode hive number per member was 3, indicating that our members are primarily hobbyists. Small apiaries can struggle with resources if a colony is in trouble, and some suggest having at least 4 colonies.
Winter loss data showed 6 members with zero losses and 6 members with over 40% losses.
Lewis Cauble and Willie Pascal have been hearing from many beekeepers who are wondering why their bees didn't make it through the winter. To help everyone out, we're sharing this video that addresses common issues and solutions. Check it out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWtSbVXqO_Y
📞 Protect your bees from pesticide use around power lines by calling Duke Power today! Request to be added to their "no-spray" list by dialing 800.777.9898 and asking to speak with a transmission vegetation specialist.