The pnwhoneybeesurvey remains OPEN until April 30th. Please participate @ https://pnwhoneybeesurvey.com/survey/ . This will be the 16th year. I have modified the survey so you can simply enter survival/loss this past winter; select Fast Track to pass around questions on management if you wish.
The 19 WVBA members so far responding (3 below average of 22 last five years) to the 2024-25 survey report a 16.5% winter loss level, well below the 10 year WVBA average winter loss level of 30%. Those with 8 frame Langstroth hives had half the loss (11% loss) compared to the 10 frame beekeepers (22% loss level). One 5 frame nucs (of 9 overwintered) did not survive, nor did one other hive (of 7 total).
For Oregon backyarders, the overall trend is essentially flat over the past 14 years with average losses at 38% overwinter. It has increased slightly the past 14 years for commercially managed colonies to 22% loss level. WVBA losses have been lower the last five years, including this past winter based on the current level of responses. The WVBA 10-year average loss is 30%, lower than statewide average of 38%. The loss trend the past 10 years is more strongly downward than statewide (see Chart). The latest WVBA report is at: (https://pnwhoneybeesurvey.com/) Click on survey reports under individual club reports.
I am sure most of you are aware of very high levels of losses being reported by commercial beekeepers the past two winters. According to a survey from Apiary Inspectors of America/Auburn University, overall overwinter losses for U.S. beekeepers in 2022-23 was 37.3%. A preliminary survey by Project Apis m (PAm) of losses this current year, April 2024 to March 2025, was extremely elevated – 62% for 800 beekeepers. Loss of 17 commercial Oregon beekeepers, responding to the PAm survey, was 56%, loss of 9 hobbyist beekeepers was 46% and 5 sideliner loss level was 50.4%. Total colony lost was between 50,000 and 100,000 colonies.
We are awaiting analysis of samples that have been taken and are being analyzed by USDA and Cornell University from colonies of beekeeper colonies moved to almond pollination in February. There are several theories being floated for possible reasons for the heavy losses. Environmental conditions (colonies stressed in the fall and too few adults reared to pass the winter season), lack of “clean” forage, a new virus or a change in DWV virus virulence and/or management errors in failure to adequately control varroa have been mentioned as possible causative factors.
NOTE: The nationwide survey by Apiary Inspectors of America/Auburn University, with participation of Oregon State, is also open to end of April. It is separate from the PNW survey – we encourage you to record your colony survivorship/loss on both sites. https://apiaryinspectors.org/US-beekeeping-survey-blog25.1