While many people aren’t thinking of honeybees until the first blooms of spring, the time is now to order bees and assemble equipment.

Packages of bees are usually pre-ordered and spoken for by the end of February, according to entomologist Cam Lay, Natural Resource Program manager for the Montana Department of Agriculture.

The fascinating world of “backyard beekeeping” can be discovered at any age, but the first step is to learn about the care and cost it takes to maintain a healthy hive.

Before committing to purchasing a package of bees, Lay recommends doing a lot of reading on the subject, talking to a beekeeper and attending beekeeping club or association meetings or workshops such as Introduction to Beekeeping offered March 5 through the Flathead County Extension Office.

“They are livestock. They are not pets,” Lay said.

There are dozens of subspecies of the Western honeybee — “apis mellifera” — differentiated by traits such as temperament, productivity, disease resistance and appearance.

Two popular subspecies among beekeepers are the Carniolan and Italian honeybees.

Both bees are known to have mild or “gentle” temperaments. In addition to genetics, a colony’s temperament depends on a combination of factors including the location of a hive, weather, health of the hive and amount of food stores (honey), among others.

One noticeable difference between Carniolan and Italian honeybees is productivity when it comes to raising brood.

“When the days get shorter and colder, Carniolans hunker down and wait for winter to be over,” Lay said.

Italians, on the other hand, continue to raise brood into fall despite limited sources for nectar and pollen, which may lead to starvation over the winter.

“Italians are very productive and have very large populations. They do well in warmer parts of the states and for commercial beekeeping,” Lay said.

Lay prefers Carniolans.

“I had colonies of Italians and I had a lot of honey, but every colony I’ve tried to overwinter has died,” Lay said. “Now I’m running Carniolans, which are said to be hardy especially in cold climates.”

“To some extent it’s the whole Ford versus Chevy argument,” Lay said with a laugh.

The same statement can be said on how to maintain healthy colonies.

Lay has kept bees off and on over the past 40 years.

“Things were a whole lot easier,” Lay said, noting that there is now a host of parasites, diseases and other external stressors that can weaken or decimate a colony.

Lay recommends starting with two to three hives.

“When you start with one, you don’t have any idea what ‘normal’ is,” Lay said.

If people have questions about bees, they may call him at 406-444-3790, or email him at clay2@mt.gov.

“I talk to beekeepers all day long. No one should hesitate to call me,” Lay said.

When starting a new hive, people typically buy three-pound packages of honeybees. A 3-pound package contains between 10,000 and 12,000 adult worker bees and a queen in a wooden box with screened sides. The package is then transferred into a hive body.

Monday was the first day packages of Carniolan honeybees will be available for sale at local supplier Western Bee Supplies Inc. in Polson.

Rick Molenda, president of Western Bee, said he ordered 600 packages that he drives to pick up himself in California.

“Last year sold out in eight working days,” Molenda said.

A three-pound package at Western Bee costs $125. Packages are estimated to arrive at the end of April, or what he calls “bee day” when customers come to pick them up.

Molenda got into beekeeping when his dad took over Western Bee in 1979, then retired eight years ago.

“I live in an alfalfa field and when the bloom gets going, I watch them go for hours working hard and fast,” Molenda said.

People interested in placing orders for honeybees from Western Bee may call 883-2918 or email rick@westernbee.com. Equipment is also available for sale at www.westernbee.com.

Murdoch’s Ranch and Home Supply also sells bees and equipment, which may be pre-ordered online at www.murdochs.com. Italian and Carniolan bees are available in three-pound packages for $129.99.

Wade Foley of Evergreen has kept bees for a year and a half and is entering the bee business with Tamarack Apiaries.

He is taking orders for four-pound packages at $150 or five-pound packages at $162 of Italians or Carniolans by calling 260-0563. While the website is still under construction, people may find more information at www.bees4u.net.

“We don’t have a retail storefront yet, but we are hoping to have something locked in by the middle of March,” Foley said.

Beekeeping equipment is available at CHS Natural and Organic on Fourth Avenue East.

Both Lay and Molenda will talk at the Introduction to Beekeeping workshop at the Flathead County Fairgrounds. The workshop will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lay will give an “Introduction to Honey Bee Biology.” Molenda will discuss ordering supplies, assembling a hive and “A Year in the Hive.” In Northwest Montana, bears factor into the equation of beekeeping. Bear and lion specialist Erik Wenum of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will talk about “Honeybees and wildlife mitigation.” Wenum will go over the importance of location in regard to wildlife and mitigation measures such as electric fencing.

“Apiaries are a huge bear attractant,” Wenum said, even if a beekeeper has just one or two hives. “A hobbyist may think they only have a little bit of honey and bears would not be interested — bears are in fact, very interested.”

Cost of the workshop is $30 and lunch is provided. Pre-registration is required and be made at the extension office, 1108 S. Main St., Kalispell. For more information, call Pat McGlynn, agriculture extension agent, at 758-5553.

Hilary Matheson is a reporter for The Daily Inter Lake. She may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.