The beekeepers that are checking their hives are one of the first people into the burning forests in Australia. Unfortunately, they are first to hear the animals screaming, wounded and suffering. Australia’s fires killed millions of bees and destroyed countless beehives.
The president of the NSW Apiarists Association, Stephen Targett describes the situation as “truly devastating” and traumatic for beekeepers. He adds: “It’s doing their heads in, the screaming animals, the animals that are in pain, that are crying out in the forest, it’s absolutely horrific”. Additionally, he says: “One beekeeper employs some young people and it has really traumatized them. So the beekeeper has arranged counseling for these young beekeepers who went into the forest and he won’t allow them back into the forest for a period of time.”
Beekeepers losing their hives because of the fires
The drought and bushfires are severely impacting beekeepers and are wearing them down. Since the start of 2019’s bushfire season, over a million hectares have burnt in NSW. This fire took its toll to a large number of hives as well as the key foraging fields.
Peter Matthinson from Elands estimates that he lost 70% of his hives and 90% of the sites that he used for his bees. Mr.Matthinson said: “I’m a pretty resilient guy, but I’ve lost a lot of bees“. He adds: “Those bees are more than livestock to me … I think of them like I’m their dad a bit, I look after them and they look after me. If I have to watch more hives burn after we’ve lost a hell of a lot already, I just don’t even know about starting over again, I just don’t know what to do next.”
Additionally, Mr. Matthinson says that it would take at least 3 years to recuperate all of the foraging sites again and bees will not be able to use them. Moreover, most of the Manuka trees were burnt. It will be very difficult to make manuka honey at least for 3 years.
Mr. Matthinson says: “The fires were that hot in places that some beekeepers, who have a fairly good understanding of their local bush, don’t believe those trees will be flowering or producing nectar and pollen for the bees for at least 20 years and in some cases, they don’t believe it’ll be in their lifetime“. He adds: “Without Manuka honey in our pattern for the next three years, we won’t survive on regular table honey, it’s not worth it for us”.
How can we help?
NSW Apiarists Association asks that anyone who has land available for bees to contact them. They have received some calls from people who are offering their land for beekeepers to put their bees there. The president, Mr. Targett, says that they highly appreciate every offer and are glad that people care and understand the importance of bees. Moreover, they hope to get approval from the State Government to let beekeepers use public land. Australia’s fires killed millions of bees and destroyed a countless number of beehives, therefore, this will be of great help for beekeepers.
Source: ABC News
Do the beekeepers have the option of putting their hives inside of cities? Many cities in the U.S. are allowing that. In Detroit, where I live, there is an organization called “Bees in the D” which places bee hives throughout the metro Detroit area, and even in Windsor, Canada. Many of their hives go atop buildings. Some restaurants have the bee hives on top of their buildings and they use the honey in their cooking.
I encourage bee keepers to check out Earth Gardeners, crop swap and other backyard groups on facebook as many offers of hosting hives are there.
We have hives and would be happy to offer to house more from those saved in the Victorian bushfires. Live on the Bellarine Peninsula.
We have some small areas on our land Woodend Victoria with many different trees and could offer space to Victorian bee keepers and also NSW if practicable.
Sadly the cost of Manuka honey (and a lot of fakes) will go up for those that don’t know what to look for when buying honey.