When winter rolls around, bears hibernate and birds fly south, but what about the bees? Well... like every other creature, bees have their own unique ways of coping with cold temperatures during the winter season.

One way bees prepare for the winter is by gathering a winter reserve of honey. Bees have one main job in the winter and that is to take care of the queen bee. This means they must keep her safe and warm.

To do this, the bees must work harder to surround the queen and form a cluster with their bodies. The worker bees then flutter their wings and shiver. This constant motion and continuous use of energy is how the bees keep the inside temperature of the hive warm.

In order to keep shivering, the bees must have enough honey. This is how they get their energy. One of the most important jobs of the beekeeper in the winter is to make sure the honey supply stays full so the bees can keep shivering.

In order to produce body heat and stay alive, honeybees must rely on honey for energy. Some studies have found that hives of honeybees will consume up to 30 pounds of stored honey over the course of a single winter. On warmer days, bees will leave the cluster briefly in order to eliminate body waste outside the hive.

And there you have it, never a mental health day for the busy honey bees!