We lost our first hive this way. I quit feeding them and sometime in late winter they died out and when I opened the hive I found them all dried up in the bottom. It was highly disappointing and discouraging. But then a while later a neighbor called with a swarm in her yard and we went and got it and were back up and running in no time.
Every community has that person who has taken it upon themselves to be in charge of the swarms that get called into the water department or other utility. Get to know that person and they'll give you a swarm.
