The bees are still buzzing

Photo: Trevor Rockliffe

Bees come back to the hive at Blue Mountain Winery in OK Falls.

The population of honeybees has recently been declining around the world, but one expert in the field says that is not the case in the Okanagan.

Victor Macdonald, with Bees Incorporated, is a breeder of bees, specifically the Victorian Queen Bee which has responded well to the beekeeping challenges of today. He is also a past president of the Capital Beekeepers Association and teaches courses in beekeeping.

Macdonald says it’s amazing how many beekeepers there are in the Okanagan, he's even formed the BBC (Backyard Beekeepers Club).

“It’s increased tremendously and there’s definitely not a decline in bees in the Okanagan,” he says.

Macdonald points to the number of beekeepers and the level of interest that continues to grow in the area, adding that he just finished a two-day class for 15 new members.

“Each one of those 15 individuals I guarantee will be taking up beekeeping and getting a hive of their own,” says Macdonald, who suggests each student get two hives.

“Each one will be starting with a nucleus colony. As a result of that, you’ve got 30 new colonies in the Okanagan area. This weekend we have another course again where those people will be added onto the BBC and it just grows and grows. We’ve got over 200 members already.”

Bees Incorporated tries to hold three classes per month, and there is already a waiting list beginning to grow.

While these types of hives and colonies could thrive in the coming years, that is not the case with the bees which are typically found in nature.

“Those bees unfortunately are going to succumb to the biggest problem in beekeeping and that is the bee mite. It is called the varroa destructor and it’s a problem around the world,” he says.

“If you can control the varroa destructor in your hive, you’re going to be a good bee keeper, if you do not, you’re going to find problems.”

This parasitic mite attaches itself to the body of the bee and weakens it by spreading a virus. A significant mite infestation will lead to the death of a honeybee colony, usually in the late autumn through early spring.

Macdonald says many of the new beekeepers he meets are also orchardists or berry growers from around the province who will use the bees to pollinate their crops.

He also delivers bee colonies to certain orchards, but would not share information of which orchards, or how many he deals with.

“Bee keepers make more money from pollinating than they do from producing honey," he said with a laugh.

Fred Steele of the BC Fruit Growers' Association also says he's been watching the bee situation from afar, but has not had any orchardists voice their concerns since taking over as president earlier this year.