More than planes on the wing at southern B.C. airport bees like it, too

If you listen closely on ariverside trail running past the airport in Kamloops, B.C., you can hear the sound of buzzing bees between the roar of the planes.

That's because beekeeper Rob Hunter and his wife Anne-Marie keep bees on what would otherwise be unused land near the airport's control tower.

"People are very cooperative," Hunter said. "They let us come and be on their space and it's very workable [for agriculture]."

To get on to airport land the Hunters have special security clearanceand must use a yellow flashing light as they drive onto the property. There, theykeepa dozen colonies, each containing upwards of 30,000 bees.

Hunter got the ideasix years ago after learning about airports in Ontario and Quebec that kept bees. In addition, he studied agriculture in university and was always interested in land use and beekeeping.

When he approached Kamloops Airport managing director Ed Ratuski about the project, Ratuski immediately knew it was a good idea.

"Rob was great," Ratuski said."It just worked out really well."

Having the Hunters keeping bees on unused land has been so successful that the airport is looking at other ways they can make use of land includingsolar panels.

"It makes a lot of sense to make use of those lands where it doesn't impact aviation, and it's good for the environment," Ratuski said.

Because the hives are so visible from Rivers Trail, along theThompson River,Hunter said people often come up to the fence to ask questions about bees and beekeeping.

Being next to the trail also means the bees are close to wildlife, such as bears. That's why the Hunters installed an electric fence around the perimeter.

"At times the bears have tested the chain-link and dug under and gone to the electric fence, but so far the bears haven't entered the bee yard or damaged any equipment," he said. "So we're happy with the location for the security part of it."

On average, Hunter said a colony of bees produces about 27 kilograms of honey each year. While that number can vary from year-to-year, production at the airport in 2018 took off, yielding twice the annual average.

"They produced well last year," Hunter said. "I'm thinking of moving them this year because I don't see enough production. I'll have to decide that very soon."