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The harsh winter conditions of last year in other parts of Canada played an important role in the death of millions of bees.
It is estimated that about 70% of Ontario's beekeepers have suffered "unsustainable losses" during the winter.
But cold is not the main problem of the 300 or so beekeepers in the Cowichan Valley; it is rain and moisture during the winters of the west coast that pose a more serious threat.
Other factors, including wasp and varroa attacks on hives, have recently contributed to the death of thousands of honey bees in the valley.
John Magdanz, president of the Cowichan Beekeepers, said many local beekeepers had lost their hives last winter because of continuous rains that flooded the valley for days.
"The hives are wet and the bees have no way of drying them. Thus, without human intervention, many bees catch dysentery and die, "said Magdanz.
Magdanz explained that there are ways to handle wet winter conditions, including using spongy materials such as wood chips or fiberglbad insulation in bee hive filtration systems that absorb moisture, leaving bees dry and tall.
According to Magdanz, varroa mites are also a source of concern. A bee specialist from the province told local beekeepers in the Cowichan Valley in 2016 that this area is one of the most infested mites in BC
Varroa mites are native to Asia and produce local bees, most of which are native to Europe, with no natural protection, susceptible to other viruses.
They were first discovered on Vancouver Island at a honey bee farm in the Coombs area in 1996.
"The Cowichan Valley is not so big and beekeeping operations are not far apart, allowing mites to move more easily between farms and infect hives," he says. said Magdanz.
"They feed on the blood of bees and weaken them, which can lead to illness and death."
Magdanz said that there are treatments readily available to treat mites, and that most members of Cowichan Beekeepers use them, but many beekeepers in the valley, often recreational farmers, are not members of the club. .
"Many of them have chosen to grow their beehives in a natural and organic way, but the truth is that there is nothing like it," he said.
"It's not natural for European bees to come in contact with Asian mites and have no natural protection against them. We must therefore take measures to fight against mites. Providing such information is one of the goals of the club and we encourage all local beekeepers to partner. "
Tie Frazer owns Apiaries Chapelwood Cottage in Mesachie Lake.
He lost five of his 17 hives, each containing between 20,000 and 30,000 bees, earlier this month in a swarm of yellow wasps while he had to leave his farm for 12 days to deal with a situation. Family emergency.
Frazer said the wasps were relentless as they went from one hive to another while eating bees and honey.
"Honey attracts wasps and then they eat bees for their protein," he said.
"Bees can sting only once, while wasps can sting again and again, so bees have no chance. I was disappointed when I returned and saw the damage, but it's a great example of why beekeepers need to be vigilant and caring about their hives. "
Frazer explained that wasps are easy to treat if beekeepers use proper wasp traps, and he will make sure that they are in place in the future.
"I hope to no longer have losses this year and I am building a large number of bees for spring," he said.
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