Beekeeping in the Winter

I was out for a walk with my dog Seamus this afternoon and stopped by the hives to check things out. The skunk that Tom trapped and released a few weeks ago has been hanging out under the hives. It’s nice and cozy and warm I suppose. While I was standing there, a bee dive bombed by me into the snow. I was so surprised! I could hear it buzzing. It was almost as though she was heading home but ran out of navigation ability. I wonder why she was out in -8 degree C weather ...? There were many of her sisters in the snow around her. I wished I could have rescued her but I would never open a hive in the winter. The heat loss would jeopardize the entire hive. All the hives are wrapped and put to bed with the hopes that they will survive our unpredictable winters.