Sustainably Speaking: Preparing Honey Bees for a northeast Wisconsin winter

Sustainably Speaking: Preparing Honey Bees for a northeast Wisconsin winter



Beekeepers work hard throughout the spring and the summer to maintain proper hives, but what happens when the colder months arrive?
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Storm Team 5’s Nathan Himpsl spoke with members of the Brown County Beekeepers Association to learn more about the key points to preserving hives for a successful spring.

There are many different methods for preserving the hives at a comfortable temperature, consisting of wrapping, relocation and even monitoring with infrared cameras.

It’s possible to visualize the internal sections of the hives and see where the busiest parts are, seeing some areas glowing a deeper red. This is where most of the heat is contained and with that information, it’s possibly the location of not only the queen but the workers as well.

Wrapping beehives with plastic wrap or other materials is one of the most popular methods of winter prep, as it helps provide insulation, slowing heat loss from the hive and allowing bees to consume less honey to maintain the cluster’s temperature.

Wrapping material may vary depending on the conditions it may be exposed to, whether it be winds, moisture or something else. One of the most important points to keep in mind when wrapping is ensuring proper ventilation is present.

Another option, but one less common due to the involvement of various risks, is shipping your bees. Honey bees are vulnerable to cold and moisture, creating complications for this process in the winter. Most honeybee transfers occur in May-June when this risk is minimized.

Advancements in technology have made it much easier to ensure hives are properly maintained throughout winter. Applications such as MyBroodMinder.com make sure that the following moisture levels and temperatures are at adequate levels.

With proper training for applications such as this one, beekeepers can even learn to locate their queen.
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The Brown County Beekeepers Association hosts classes throughout the year where beginners can learn the process of beekeeping.

This is also available to experienced beekeepers to make sure they are up to date on the latest beekeeping trends and technology. This can be found via the Brown County Beekeepers Association’s website.