The Puget Sound Beekeepers Association January meeting was abuzz with new faces and a lot of excitement building for the coming season. The question on everyone lips: How are your bees doing? Are you feeding them? Are you planning to add hives in the spring? Anticipation fills the room every year at this time.

January Beekeeping in Seattle: What the Bees Are Doing

Meanwhile, the bees themselves are in a tight winter cluster, keeping warm by vibrating their flight muscles. They are consuming stored honey slowly to maintain the cluster temperature above 57°F. They are not flying, not foraging, and not raising brood yet. The beekeeper role at this time of year is to ensure they have enough food stores to make it to the first warm days of February and March.

In addition to feeding checks, many Seattle beekeepers use January meetings to plan the year ahead. Topics at this meeting included spring treatment timing for varroa mites, ordering packages and nucs, and identifying new host home locations for additional hives.

About the Puget Sound Beekeepers Association

The Puget Sound Beekeepers Association is the primary beekeeping club for Seattle-area beekeepers. Monthly meetings cover hive management, pest and disease identification, honey extraction, and local forage conditions. As a result, it is one of the best resources for urban beekeepers in Seattle looking to connect with experienced mentors and fellow hobbyists. Seattle Urban Honey has been a member for many years.