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Wisconsin Sees Large Bee Colony Loss

Officials Point To Habitat Loss, Disease, Pesticides

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A national survey shows beekeepers lost more than 42 percent of their colonies over the past year. Wisconsin’s losses were even higher.

According to preliminary results of the Bee Informed Partnership survey, Wisconsin respondents say they lost more than 60 percent of their colonies over the last year.

“I’ve heard of some losing lots of bees, but 60 percent is higher than I would have anticipated from people I’ve talked to,” said Gordon Waller, president of Wisconsin Honey Producers.

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“That’s sort of a surprising number, and I see there are many states, several states besides Wisconsin above 60 percent.”

Seven other states also reported annual colony losses of more than 60 percent. The national average is also the second highest annual loss recorded to date, according to the study.

Liz Meils is the state’s apiarist. She said the state is beginning its annual inspections for Wisconsin beekeepers. Inspections run from May through mid-June, then start again in August and run through the end of October. Meils said overall, bees are doing ‘pretty well’ and beekeepers are doing the best they can given the circumstances they’re working with.

”Wisconsin honeybees are dealing with the same problems and circumstances that bees all around the country are facing,” Meils said. “There’s a whole slew of pests, pathogens, pesticides that the bees are dealing with. They’re also struggling with habitat loss or inadequate forage and that leads to poor nutrition. It’s a tough battle for the bee right now.”

One thing Waller said he’d like to see as a solution is more forage opportunities for bees, like rotational grazing of large dairy herds, which allows the plants to grow between grazings. He also said large expanses of lawns that offer nothing for bees should be discouraged. Meils added that people should plant wildflowers, and allow growth of flowering weeds like dandelions and clover.