In the spring of 2024, a total of 542 Ontario beekeepers responded to the Ontario Beekeepers’ Association’s (OBA’s) winter-loss survey representing 28,174 hives that went into the winter in the fall of 2023.
The overall average winter loss reported was 51.6% and the median winter-loss was 33%.
Average winter losses were higher among commercial beekeepers (53.1%) in 2024 compared to small scale beekeepers (43.9%).
Median losses for commercial beekeepers (29.3%) were slightly lower than small scale beekeepers (33.3%).
In 2024 the losses were substantially higher across all regions than they were in 2023.
The top three reasons beekeepers cited as contributing factors to winter-losses were fluctuating winter weather, weak colonies going into winter, and high fall mite levels. Compared to responses to the same question in 2023, a higher proportion of beekeepers in 2024 felt that their hives were not doing as well as the previous year.
