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Bees Losses Occurring in 22 States

http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/beeslosses_901.mp3

Beekeepers are checking their hives after the winter and finding them empty. No one's sure just what's causing them to disappear. KSMU's Michele Skalicky has more.

BEES

THIS IS A SOUND MANY BEEKEEPERS IN MISSOURI AREN'T HEARING THIS YEAR. NORMAL LOSS IN HIVES OVER THE WINTER IS BETWEEN 10 AND 20% OF THE BEE COLONY. BUT BEEKEEPERS ARE FINDING EMPTY HIVES THIS YEAR.

KENNY NORMAN, PRESIDENT OF THE MISSOURI STATE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION, SAYS THE BEE LOSS IS BEING REFERRED TO AS COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER

NO ONE'S SURE EXACTLY WHAT'S CAUSING COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER, BUT NORMAN SAYS THERE ARE SEVERAL THEORIES.

IT MIGHT BE LOW LEVELS OF PESTICIDES THAT BEES CARRY BACK TO THEIR HIVES FROM PLANTS THAT HAVE BEEN SPRAYED.

OR IT COULD BE A PESTICIDE INSIDE THE HIVE THAT BEEKEEPERS USE TO GET RID OF A CERTAIN TYPE OF MITE THAT INFESTS BEES.

ANOTHER THEORY, NORMAN SAYS, IS THAT IT COULD BE A NATURAL PROCESS

AT A RECENT MEETING OF THE MISSOURI STATE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION, OFFICIALS SAID WE MAY NEVER KNOW WHY HIVES ARE EXPERIENCING COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER.

BUT NORMAN SAYS WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT IT'S NOT A LOCALIZED PROBLEM--BEEKEEPERS ACROSS THE STATE ARE BEING AFFECTED BY IT

NORMAN SAY HE'S BEEN IN BEEKEEPING FOR 10 YEARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE HAD HIVES COMPLETELY EMPTY.

BECAUSE NO ONE'S SURE JUST WHAT'S CAUSING THE BEE LOSSES, NORMAN SAYS RECOVERY INVOLVES PURCHASING NEW HIVES.

THERE ARE REPORTS OF BEE LOSSES IN 22 STATES. THAT'S RAISING CONCERN THAT AGRICULTURE COULD BE IMPACTED SINCE BEES ARE NEEDED TO POLLINATE ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE FOOD WE EAT

NORMAN SAYS THE MISSOURI STATE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION AND THE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION OF THE OZARKS CONTINUE TO TRY TO KEEP A FIRM HAND IN PREVENTING ISSUES THAT WILL CAUSE INTERUPPTION TO THE STATE'S FOOD SUPPLY.

HE SAYS IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BEES SWARMING ON YOUR PROPERTY, DON'T KILL THEM. INSTEAD, CONTACT A LOCAL BEEKEEPER WHO WILL EXTRACT THEM FROM YOUR PROPERTY, SAVE THEM AND THUS HELP THE ENVIRONMENT.

Michele Skalicky has worked at KSMU since the station occupied the old white house at National and Grand. She enjoys working on both the announcing side and in news and has been the recipient of statewide and national awards for news reporting. She likes to tell stories that make a difference. Michele enjoys outdoor activities, including hiking, camping and leisurely kayaking.