When it feels like Spring: False start for hibernating bees

False Start for Hibernating Bees…

Would you believe it’s mid-February around here in Flagstaff?  Having spent the past few days outside I wouldn’t.  The problem is that neither do the hibernating bees.

We’ve been having record-breaking highs for this time of year and it’s truly been out of the norm.  It seems the large El Nino effect for 2015 and 2016 that they’ve said should produce LOTS of snow has simply vanished.  Instead of being buried in snow, currently, we’re wrapped in a warm sunshine blanket.  Now don’t think that I’m complaining!  It’s really quite lovely.  Just last week Hattie and I took the kids to the park for a couple hours and soaked up the sun.  It may FEEL like spring…but it’s not.  That may become a problem for our bees.

Every day for the past week or so our bees have been pretty active—flying in and out of the hive like it’s springtime, looking for nectar and pollen.  Problem is that it’s not springtime.  And there is no nectar or pollen.  So what do we end up with?  Just a bunch of hungry bees buzzing about, expending precious energy in a vain pursuit of a false start to Spring.  Instead of balling up close and conserving energy, bees have begun to strike out in search of resources for the hive, but coming back empty-handed like the first dove sent out by Noah in search of signs of life.

All this activity has not gone unnoticed.  This might help explain why we’ve already gotten multiple calls this week from people looking for Northern Arizona bee removal.  We’re happy to oblige.  I’m glad they call us first, instead of a local Flagstaff bee exterminator to kill the bees.  We do our very best to rescue and re-home our native Arizona bees.  They provide a huge service to us, and we’re more than happy to give them a good honey home!  If you have problem bees right now, or throughout the season let us know and we’ll come to the rescue.

As much as I love this nice warm weather, I do hope for a bit (or a bunch) more snow.  We can certainly use it around here, and it just might help keep all the hibernating bees a little more tucked into their homes, dreaming of the REAL Spring and its abundant flow of nectar, pollen, and wonderful fresh smells!  Sweet dreams bees…