Bee Populations In Austria Collapsing; Regional Death Rates Projected As High As 70%
VIENNA, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Austria is to see enormous losses to its bee population this year, with experts anticipating a high death rate, the Krone newspaper reported on Tuesday.
With spring weather now arriving and a better estimation of their numbers possible, Christian Boigenzahn of Bee Austria said the losses will be "significantly above the average." In addition, he said the phenomenon will be seen across the entire European Union.
Austria had already seen a massive 30 percent drop in bee numbers following the 2014/2015 winter season. President of the Austrian Beekeepers Association Johann Gruscher said early estimates in the western state of Vorarlberg following this past winter put the death rate at as high as 70 percent.
Hobby beekeeper Michael Mayer from Upper Austria said while bee deaths are to be expected each year, this time the situation is particularly drastic, with all of his bees "dead on the ground" following this past winter.
EDIT
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-03/15/c_136130054.htm