Managed bee colonies were lost at a startling rate last year, reports AL.com's Margaret Kates. And while Alabama's decrease wasn't as bad, mathematically, as the rest of the country's, it's still not good news.
The U.S. Beekeeper Survey was conducted by Auburn University, working with the Apiary Inspectors of America and Oregon State University. It determined that beekeepers in the U.S. lost a worrisome 55.1% of their managed colonies from April 2023 to April 2024. The survey has been taken since 2010-2011, and is the biggest loss yet.
Alabama beekeepers lost 40.5% of their managed colonies over that same time period.
Bee losses are concerning because there has been a history of dwindling numbers, they are a sentinel species whose decrease in numbers could indicate deeper environmental trouble, and they are important pollinators for the U.S. farming industry.
While this particular survey didn't look at causes, bee experts believe the decline was due to a parasitic mites that kill bees in the development stage. Also, the summer 2023 honey season lasted longer than usual, delaying treatments and leading to heavier losses.
Now, the reason not to panic: The U.S. Beekeeper Survey recorded losses from existing, managed hives. So think of that 55% as a mortality rate and not necessarily a population decline.
