Dead Bees

As a rookie beekeeper braving my very first winter with a hive, I’m basically on a crash course in bee survival. So far, we’ve had a couple of bone-chilling cold snaps, and each time I’ve found dead bees at the entrance, which really tugs at my heartstrings.  I mean, it’s winter, and I get it; it’s a natural part of the cycle, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

But unfortunately those bees have a short life expectancy. I adore these buzzing buddies, and as soon as the sun decides to make an appearance again after each polar vortex, I spot my remaining bees hard at work. They’re like tiny little maids, bustling about and efficiently removing their fallen friends from the entrance, buzzing in and out like they’re late for a meeting. So, despite the occasional bee-bye, the hive is still alive and kicking, making me feel relieved for now.  I’ve been glued to the beecam, watching the busy little creatures buzz in and out like they’re on a honey-drenched errand, hauling away their fallen friends like a tiny funeral service in a flower patch!  I’ve got a few fellow beekeepers who’ve tragically bid farewell to their colonies in prior winters, so I’m crossing my fingers — and maybe even my toes — that mine survive. It’s tough not to feel like a nervous wreck in this bee-tastrophe!