A honeybee swarm (from photofarmer on Flickr)
“Help, there’s a swarm of bees!”
If you hear someone screaming that phrase, or something similar, feel free to give me a call at the number above (if you are in west Michigan that is). I’ll be happy to come out and take the bees away to a new home (click here for my rates). If you aren’t in west Michigan, you can likely find someone to help on the Bee Source Forum.
From journeyguy on Flickr
First off, take some advice from a great book and DON’T PANIC. Bees are pretty calm when they are swarming. They aren’t really looking to pick a fight with you. If you or anyone else nearby is allergic to bee stings, please stay out of the area and make sure you know where your EpiPen is just in case.
When a bee swarm has landed on a tree or structure they are usually just taking a rest while their scouts circle the area looking for a suitable spot to build their hive.
It is a very natural thing for bees to swarm. It most often happens when their hive gets overpopulated.
If I can get free from what I am doing I will get open swarms (those not inside buildings or the like, they’ve already set up a hive by then most likely) for free in the Kalamazoo area. I will go to Allegan, Van Buren, Barry and Calhoun Counties, but I ask for $20 to cover gas.
Important! Don’t spray the swarm with insecticides or anything else. Contact a beekeeper who will come out and remove the mass of bees.
From Charles Haynes on Flickr
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2 Responses
Jeremy, I you were around about 4 years ago. We had that happen in a tree in front of my house just as the kids were getting off the bus. It was the coolest thing to see!!! I tried to find an area beekeeper to come and get them, but was unsuccessful and just as quickly as they came, they left!
Posted on March 16th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
[...] We are both now the proud owners of two hives each. Now if I can only get a call for a swarm… [...]
Posted on March 26th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
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