World May 17, 2026 · 1 min read

Experts sound alarm as North America’s bees start swarm season unusually early

After record losses last year, beekeepers report a warm winter has led to bees ‘waking up earlier’ this yearAfter a series of record-breaking US heatwaves, the 2026 bee swarm season in North America has started 17 days earlier than last year, pushing beekeepers to adapt to a rapidly shifting season...

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The Guardian
by Maya Yang
Experts sound alarm as North America’s bees start swarm season unusually early

After record losses last year, beekeepers report a warm winter has led to bees ‘waking up earlier’ this year

After a series of record-breaking US heatwaves, the 2026 bee swarm season in North America has started 17 days earlier than last year, pushing beekeepers to adapt to a rapidly shifting season while raising new questions about how honeybees are responding to the climate crisis.

According to a new report published by Swarmed, a tracking network of more than 10,000 beekeepers, focused on safe and ethical honeybee relocation, this year’s unusually early swarm season follows several years of record colony declines worldwide.

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This article was originally published by The Guardian and written by Maya Yang.

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