This weekend, a wild swarm moved into my hive that had been sitting empty for several years. When I went in to check it out, they seemed to be happy and doing well, despite having to evict the ants and mice that had been living there. They were working hard to drag a giant ball of mouse nest out though a big hole in the comb to get it out of the hive. I helped them by removing that and giving them a couple honey frames I had pulled from the freezer. There was nectar, pollen, and new eggs, so they clearly feel at home.

hive inspection

The gross mouse nest

mouse nest in hive

Nectar and Pollen

nectar and pollen

Eggs

eggs