Beekeepers in Kars use stones to protect hives from storms

Beekeepers in the Arpaçay district of Kars, Turkey, are using a traditional method to protect their hives following weather warnings for storms, heavy rain, and hail. In the village of Kaçköy, producers Ertaş Kurum and Nedim Koç have placed heavy stones on top of their hives to prevent the lids from being blown open by strong winds.

Beyond wind protection, the stones serve a secondary purpose during hail storms. Nedim Koç explained that the impact of hail on metal hive surfaces creates loud noises that disturb the bees. The stones help dampen the vibration and sound, preventing the bees from being startled into flying outside, where they would otherwise be vulnerable to being killed by falling hail.