Plan Bee: Essential Winter Survival Strategies for Beekeepers

William Williams · 2026-02-03

Winter's coming, and if you're a beekeeper, you know that's not just a dramatic line from a TV show. It's a genuine concern for your hives. The cold months can make or break your colonies, and honestly, it's the season that separates the prepared from the unprepared. Let's talk about what really matters when temperatures drop. You've probably heard all the standard advice before. But I want to dig deeper into what actually works in the field, not just what sounds good in theory. Because when it's below freezing and the wind's howling, theory doesn't keep bees alive. ### Understanding the Winter Cluster Here's the thing most people miss: bees don't just hibernate. They form what we call a winter cluster. It's a living, breathing ball of bees that generates heat by shivering their flight muscles. The queen stays right in the center where it's warmest, while worker bees rotate from the colder outside to the warmer inside. They need enough stored honey to fuel this metabolic furnace. A strong colony can consume 60 to 90 pounds of honey over winter. That's why fall feeding isn't just helpful—it's critical. You can't assume they've stored enough just because they had a good summer. ### Ventilation Versus Insulation This is where many beekeepers get tripped up. You want to keep the hive warm, but you also need proper ventilation. Condensation inside the hive is a silent killer. When warm, moist air from the bees' respiration hits cold hive walls, it forms water droplets that drip back on the cluster. Wet bees are dead bees in winter. They can't generate enough heat when they're damp. So you need to manage that moisture while still providing wind breaks and some insulation. It's a balancing act. - Use upper entrances or ventilation boxes to allow moisture to escape - Consider moisture quilts or absorbent materials in the top of the hive - Provide wind breaks without completely sealing the hive - Monitor humidity levels when possible ### The Varroa Mite Problem Doesn't Take Winter Off Here's something that might surprise you: varroa mites continue to reproduce in winter clusters. They're just slower about it. A colony going into winter with high mite loads is already compromised, even if they look strong. Fall treatments aren't optional if you want winter survival. I've seen too many beekeepers lose hives that "looked perfect" in October because they skipped mite checks in September. As one experienced beekeeper told me recently, "Treating for mites in fall isn't being cautious—it's being realistic about what your bees are facing." ### Practical Winter Hive Management So what should you actually do differently? First, reduce your hive entrances. Mice love to move into warm bee hives in winter, and a small entrance with a mouse guard keeps them out while still allowing ventilation. Second, consider wrapping hives in colder climates. But here's the catch: don't wrap too early. Wait until temperatures are consistently below freezing during the day. Early wrapping can cause overheating and increased mite reproduction. Third, leave them alone as much as possible. Every time you open the hive in winter, you're letting out precious heat and disturbing the cluster. Quick checks from the outside are fine, but save the full inspections for warmer days. ### Preparing for Spring Before Winter Even Starts This might sound backward, but your winter success actually starts with how you manage your hives in late summer and fall. Strong fall populations, adequate food stores, and low mite loads are the foundation. Think about it like this: you're not just getting bees through winter. You're setting them up to explode with population growth when the first nectar flows begin. A colony that barely survives winter will be playing catch-up all season. The truth is, winter beekeeping is mostly about preparation. Once the snow falls, your options become limited. But the work you do in August, September, and October determines what you'll find when the snow melts. Take the time now, and you'll thank yourself come spring.