Do you have a swarm?
Beekeepers ONLY collect Honey Bee Swarms and Hives Carpenter Bees, Bumblebees, Yellow Jackets, Wasps, Hornets or bees that live in the ground (they are wasps) are not Honey bees.
A Honey Bee Swarm is not dangerous. They are moving into a new home. They are full of honey and seem to be a
bee tornado, thousand and thousands of bees, moving over to a tree limb or fence post to gather around their
Queen. They are waiting for their scouts to return and show them were to go. They don’t want to fight. They
don’t want to sting. They just want to sit and wait for the scout bees.
How long will they stay?
Sometimes its an hour, sometimes its a day. If the weather gets bad it may be longer. They just want a home. This is the natural way honey bees propagate (make new hives and reproduce).
Saving the bees:
Beekeepers have homes for them. There is a list of beekeepers below that will come out and catch a swarm for free. You can also call your local Farm Extension Office if there isn’t a beekeeper near where you live.
Bees inside a structure:
If the honey bees are inside the wall or under your roof they are not a swarm. they are a hive. There are a few specialized beekeepers that can help for free. Most beekeepers do not do it for a living. They can’t always come right away. Feel free to call another beekeeper. If you choose this option, always remember to tell the one you called first that the bees have been taken care of. Also if the bees move on please call them back and let them know.
Decisions:
If you decide to call for removal you should know a few things. If it is late fall, you should wait until spring to have it
removed. Spring and summer removal gives the bees a fighting chance to survive. Fall removal from inside a wall or
in your roof is a risky proposition and bees usually will end up dying of starvation. If outside the swarm may move on
before someone can come get them. Call right away.
Exterminators: An exterminator will cost a ton of money and though they may kill all the bees you will still have the problem of dead bees, dead brood(baby bees), honey comb and wax in your walls. If not removed properly what is left behind can cause odors, mold, other pest that eat whats left behind and fermented honey. A beekeepers knows how to find and extract the entire hive.
Repairs and Recovery:
We do not however repair what has been removed or damage to your property. Of course neither will the exterminator. And he will charge you for it. You should talk with the beekeeper what the damages there may be and how it would be done. Tell them what is ok to do, what is not and to keep you informed if there would be a chance of addition deconstruction. Also if a hive is in a wall, it may be easier and more cost effective to take it from the inside of the house. Discuss all the options with the beekeepers.
Identifying Honey Bees:
Below we have added images and comparisons of some of the most common wasps, hornets and bees.
Please remember we can only help you with Honey Bees.
This is a Honey Bee
Common Wasps
Bumble Bees:
Hornets:
Mason Bee:
Honey Bees do not ever build a nest hanging from a branch. That is a myth. This is a wasp nest.
