The Chinook Honey Company is looking forward to the spring and summer after the mild winter returned bee losses back to normal.

Co-owner of Chinook Honey Company, Cherie Andrews, says normally after winter they can expect to lose 15 to 20 percent of their bees.

"At 15 percent losses we are back to normal, it had been averaging 30 percent in the past years," Andrews says.

Fifteen to 20 percent is the equivalent of losing one hive.

"The hive itself consists of one queen and around 60 000 worker bees in the summer time, and that of course sets you back because there is no honey production from a dead hive," Andrews says.

After losing a hive there are two ways to establish a new hive in its place, Andrews says ,"You can re-establish your numbers or increase your number of hives by splitting up a strong hive and adding a queen, or by buying a package with a queen. A hive cannot survive without a good queen."

Hives can also be lost due to disease, lack of heat or other natural elements. The lack of moisture this spring could cause a problem in the upcoming months because without moisture there is not enough nectar produced to keep the bees from starving.

For more information on the Chinook Honey Company click here.

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