My brain is so rotted from the news that I can’t read this and not think it’s some sort of bee racism. Is this related to averting nationwide colony collapse? Seems like government overreach to my uninformed self.
I've got visions of bee inspectors standing there, insisting that this woman burn her house down.
Beekeepers have varroa under control. But the state loves to be able to declare medical emergencies for animals (cull all the chickens!!), including beehives.
Orange production in florida is on the way out, thanks to citrus greening from an introduced pest.
Most problems with beehives are down to old brood comb not getting managed out. Feral bees don't have that problem because they swarm and build a new hive when their old one gets small, and they'll leave altogether (not just split) when the brood comb gets old.
It's all bad management, but God forbid you have a beekeeping hobby, no, you must get inspected and the state apiarist gets to come on your property w/o a warrant and they can burn your hives.