In recent years, there has been a notable surge in Canada and around the world in the popularity of urban beekeeping. Driven by a heightened awareness of the vital role of pollinators and the practice’s increasing recognition, more Canadians than ever are looking to suit up and keep their own bees — and not just rural Canadians.
Pollinators appear to be well-suited for the urban landscape. Cities shield them from many agricultural pesticides and predators, offer a wide diversity of vegetation and extend the pollination season by providing warmer ground temperatures. However, despite these potential advantages, honeybee populations have not always fared well in cities.
In a recent study we found a 26 per cent beehive mortality rate in Toronto, surpassing the rates observed in the province of Ontario (17.8 per cent) and Canada as a whole (23.2 per cent) for the same year. This trend appears to be consistent across cities in Canada, where urban beekeepers reported above-average hive mortality rates.
