Winter losses - more stuff

[Jon]

This document (http://ebookbrowse.com/honey-bees-and-winterkill-medhat-pdf-d115494713)by Medhat Nasr has some useful comment about winter losses, avoiding them or tidying up afterwards.

Medhat Nasr, Ph.D. Pest Management Branch Alberta Agriculture and Food


After the unusually high overwintering losses during the winter of 2006-2007, beekeepers were
concerned about honey bee health and what should be done to reduce bee winterkill. Because
winterkill can be attributed to several possible causes, best management practices have been
developed to provide beekeepers with some options to minimize the amount of winterkill in any
given year.

I did far too many splits in mine late summer to make use of extra queens I had and I see that is highlighted as a big risk factor.
Add in poor weather in autumn and you have colonies heading into winter not ideally prepared.

[The Drone Ranger]

In fairness though we can't predict the weather and it all could have worked out wonderfully
It's a roll of the dice

[Jon]

That is the problem DR.
The previous winter was so benign I was even able to overwinter several apideas.
Nothing simple in beekeeping.