Hurricane Ian destroys thousands of beehives

Thursday, December 15, 2022

Damaged beehives in Englewood, Fla., after Hurricane Ian hit the area. Many beekeepers keep their hives in Florida in fall and winter before leasing them out to farms across the country. Credit...Jeremy Ham

“‘This will take years’: Florida’s beekeepers reel from Hurricane Ian” via Remy Tumin of The New York Times — The Florida State Beekeepers Association estimated that Hurricane Ian destroyed between 150,000 and 300,000 beehives, a loss that could have far-reaching consequences across the United States. Many beekeepers keep their hives in Florida in Fall and Winter before leasing them out to large farms from coast to coast to help in pollination for the country’s food supply. “Bees don’t make honey for us to eat for our biscuits,” John Coldwell, the association’s president, said. “Bees make honey so that they can survive through the next season.”

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