The task de jour was to make sure each hive had an box filled with wool on top above the inner cover and then wrap the hives with tar paper. The wool box on top acts as insulation while allowing warm moist air from the cluster of bees to rise during the winter and disperse through the wool instead hitting a cold service and forming condensation which could drip on the bees, chilling them. The tar paper helps to keep wind from entering the cracks between the boxes, adds a little insulation, and the black helps to absorb heat from the sun.
Its an awkward and time consuming chore. I got all but one done before I ran out of time and tar paper.
I also noticed that something appears to have been digging around some of the pavers under some of the hives. Skunk maybe?
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