Evidence of mysterious bee disorder seen in Colorado
By Blythe Terrell, Steamboat Pilot & Today
Monday, June 23, 2008
In 2005, John Fetcher's five beehives produced 14 gallons of honey. In 2007, they produced zero.
"Something happened," said Fetcher, who raises bees with his son Bill at the family's ranch near Clark. "The queen, maybe she quit laying. I don't know. So we started over."
It's a strange time to be a beekeeper.
Masses of honeybees started dying off around the world in late 2006. The phenomenon is called colony collapse disorder, when adult honeybees leave the hive and die. The cause is unknown.
Scientists are looking into diseases, parasites, environment stresses and management stresses, which include nutrition problems. And they're looking hard, because the honeybee population isn't just about pretty flowers. Bees are crucial for agriculture pollination.
According to an article from the Public Library of Science, "In 2000, the value of American crops pollinated by bees was estimated to be $14.6 billion."
Fetcher doesn't know whether colony collapse disorder is what left him without honey last year. But for him, honeybees are a hobby, and he typically gives much of his sweet supply away.
Beekeeper Pat Shalks is another story. He owns Bear River Apiary, which provides most of the local honey sold commercially in Steamboat Springs. His honey goes to locations such as Sweet Pea Market and is used at restaurants including Soda Creek Pizza, Beau Jo's Mountain Bistro and Double Z BBQ & Bar.
"I really haven't been hit hard by whatever this is that's going around," Shalks said. "But I'd venture to guess that I have been affected."
Shalks keeps more than 800 hives in about 20 spots across Routt County. When he makes his rounds, he keeps an eye out for abandoned or weak hives. He's nervous about diseases such as the pathogen Nosema cerana and parasites such as the Varroa destructor.
Colony collapse disorder is an odd mystery. One day, a hive will be just about empty. Shalks has seen it, so he knows Routt County isn't immune.
He can tell "by the way some hives have died out full of food, and other bees didn't come in and rob the food, which they normally do."
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