A northern Ontario beekeeper is sounding the alarm after discovering most of his bees had died earlier this year.
A northern Ontario beekeeper is sounding the alarm after discovering most of his bees had died earlier this year. Janice Mitchell discovered that she had lost thousands of bees in 15 colonies in February 2024. Mitchell shows some of the losses in April 2024. (Ian Campbell/CTV News Northern Ontario)
Janice Mitchell is a veterinarian by profession, so she decided to send some of the deceased bees for testing.
The beekeeper was surprised to learn that most of those tested had high levels of glyphosate, a toxic herbicide found in products such as Rounding.
CTV News staff toured Mitchell’s backyard in Tehkummah Township on Manitoulin Island earlier this month.
She told CTV News that the constant reassuring ringing she heard in her ears when she was outside has gone silent these days.
“It was in February when I found out that most of my bees on the farm property we’re on here had succumbed and that’s what I needed to find out,” Mitchell said.
Thousands of bees in 15 colonies had died and she immediately set to work finding answers.
Amazing results
According to the lab Mitchell sent his bees, including the queen, to, the samples contained 0.57 pmm of glyphosate.
Health Canada guidelines say the maximum acceptable concentration for a human being In a glass of drinking water there is 0.28 pmm and these bees contained twice as much according to the laboratory.
A graph to explain converting Health Canada’s maximum acceptable concentration of glyphosate into parts per million (ppm) to compare to the concentrations Janice Mitchell says the lab told her were found in their dead bees. (CTV Northern Ontario News)
Mitchell told CTV News the result was a surprise.
“It wasn’t the fact that… I’m not going to get honey, it’s the fact that that’s the biggest implication,” he said.
“I’m studying these bees, but what about natural? The wild pollinators, the wild bees, the water runoff in our Blue Jay creek, the Manitou, all of our water sources, what about the birds that eat these insects? It’s the bottom line, I think it’s the canary in the coal mine.”
Mitchell has forwarded his findings to other researchers, including the Ontario Beekeepers Association.
The environment needs healthy bees
In this May 21, 2008 file photo, honey bees sit on a honeycomb. (Heribert Proepper/AP Photo)
Beekeepers Association officials said ensuring healthy environments for bees is part of their strategic plan.
“Our goal is to ensure we have healthy bees, healthy environments for bees and a thriving bee industry and businesses in the province,” said Ian Grant, president of the association.
“That’s why we’re always worried every time a beekeeper loses a hive.”
Grant told CTV News he could not comment on Mitchel’s situation at this time because he has not yet seen the test results.
Changes in the area’s environment may be a factor
Mitchell said more for-profit farming operations have recently sprung up around his property, replacing what was previously grazing land.
“I have this farm here with flowering bushes and bushes and I need them for pollination,” he said.
Mitchell added that he hopes to one day be able to rebuild, but for now he is still processing his loss.
“I definitely have to think a little bit, but I haven’t given up yet,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mitchell is encouraging other beekeepers to consider testing their colonies for chemicals like glyphosate.
Veterinarian and beekeeper Janice Mitchell told CTV News in April 2024 that she hopes to one day rebuild her bee colonies after discovering she had lost thousands of bees in February 2024. (Ian Campbell/CTV News Northern Ontario)