Wintering Your Hive: Preparing Your Bees for Winter Survival

A successful winter begins long before the first snowfall. The decisions you make in late summer and fall have a direct impact on whether your colony survives until spring.

In this class, you’ll learn how to evaluate your colonies before winter and make the management decisions that give them the best chance of success. We’ll discuss colony health, mite control, food reserves, insulation, ventilation, and other essential preparations that help bees survive the cold months.

You’ll leave with a practical checklist and a better understanding of what your bees need before winter arrives.

Topics include:

• Evaluating overall colony health
• Assessing queen performance and population size
• Monitoring and treating Varroa mites
• Determining if your hive has enough winter food
• Supplemental feeding before winter
• Reducing entrances and protecting against pests
• Insulating and wrapping hives
• Ventilation and moisture management
• Fall equipment preparation
• Common mistakes that lead to winter losses

Whether this is your first winter or you’ve kept bees for years, this class will help you prepare your colonies with confidence and improve their chances of emerging strong and healthy in the spring.

Who should attend: Any beekeeper preparing colonies for winter. Recommended for beginning and intermediate beekeepers.