[NewbeeNnc]

Hey guys,

Just got back home from being gone. We got 10 inches of snow while I was gone. As I started approaching my 2 hives after being gone from out about 25 yards started seeing dead bees laying on top of the snow. Not any under the hives but found about 6 or 7 on top of snow just scattered around away from the hives. Would this be other bees carrying dead out or older bees flying out to die?

 

[honeydreams]

no just normal die off the old fly off to die. its ok.

 

[Beeslave]

It is normal to see a few bees dead on the snow. They probally thought it was warm enough to fly out to relieve themselves and froze before they could make it back. As spring gets closer and the sun gets higher you might notice greater numbers of dead bees in the snow daily. I witnessed a few of my hives last Feb. with bees pouring out of the hive to defacate(sp?) and most didn't make it back because it was 35 deg F but the sun was high and heating the hive. They appeared to have dysentery issues also but both survived the winter and are still going with the same queens.

 

[Michael Bush]

Sometimes they are hauled out and sometimes the leave on their own just before they die. Bees in the snow are a good sign that there is still life in the hive.

 

[Omie]

Bees in the snow are a good sign that there is still life in the hive.

Sort of like
"Snow on the roof means a fire in the hearth" ? LOL