P.E.I. beekeepers share concerns about hives amid freeze-thaw cycles

Beekeepers on Prince Edward Island are sharing concerns about the bee population, as hives struggle through changing weather conditions.

Last year was one of the best years for colony mortality on the island, said Cameron Menzies, the provincial apiarist with the Department of Agriculture.

However, this year's winter is different.

"These freeze-thaw cycles are not good news, unfortunately," he told CBC News. "When we get a period of warm weather then it snaps cold after that, it is usually pretty bad for the bees."

Menzies said the bees start to "get more energetic," and use some of their winter stores. When the weather gets cold again it can "shock them."

"Unfortunately, some of those bees will be dying when that happens," he said.

Menzies said there will be mortalities from this cycle, though he hopes beekeepers have prepared properly for the winter.

Menzies said more islanders should become beekeepers, as it could help the fruit crop industry, particularly wild blueberries.

"Every acre of wild blueberries that we have on P.E.I. needs to be pollinated by some of the native pollinators, but also some of our managed pollinators, honey bees as well," he said.

Introductory beekeeping workshops are held every year around the winter time, Menzies said.

Nicole Rodgers owns a lavender farm in Border-Carleton. She attended a workshop on Saturday.

She said she wanted to find out if she should get a hive at her farm.

"The benefits of bees are probably immeasurable," she said. "We have lots of wild bees and other pollinators around, so I can't see how a few more extra bees wouldn't hurt."

Rodgers said she would be concerned if bee populations were to drop.