Honey bees are fundamental to global ecosystems, serving as prolific pollinators for many of the world’s crops and wild flowering plants. Any necessary removal of bees from a property should prioritize the safe, live relocation of the insects. Humane bee removal focuses on moving the entire colony to a new, managed location, ensuring the insects survive to continue their work. Eliminating a colony should only be considered when all options for live removal have been exhausted and a public safety hazard remains.
Identifying the Bee Situation
Determining the exact nature of the bee activity is the first step in planning a successful relocation. The situation will fall into one of two categories: a temporary swarm or an established colony. A swarm is a large, exposed cluster of bees, often described as a ball shape, resting temporarily on an object like a fence post or tree branch. These bees are in transit, having recently left a crowded hive to search for a permanent new home.
Swarm bees are generally docile because they have no comb or young to protect, and they usually move on within a few hours to a few days. Conversely, an established colony involves bees entering and exiting a fixed, enclosed location, such as a wall void, chimney, or hollow tree. This signifies the bees have built wax comb, are storing food, and are actively rearing brood.
If the bees have been in a fixed spot for more than 72 hours, they have likely begun to establish comb, transitioning the situation from a simple swarm to a complex colony removal. This distinction is important because a swarm can often be handled quickly by a local beekeeper, while an established colony requires far more invasive and time-consuming methods. Wearing protective gear, including a veil, gloves, and long sleeves, is advisable to mitigate the risk of stings.
Safe Removal of a Temporary Swarm
A temporary swarm represents the simplest form of live bee removal and is often free if a local beekeeper is willing to collect it. The best time for this process is at dusk or dawn when the majority of the foraging bees have returned to the cluster and are less active. The primary goal of a swarm removal is to capture the queen, as the rest of the worker bees will follow her pheromones to the new location.
The beekeeper uses a clean box or a specialized swarm capture container placed directly beneath the cluster. For swarms on a branch, the beekeeper uses a sharp, firm shake to dislodge the entire cluster directly into the container. For swarms on a flat surface, the bees are gently brushed or scooped into the box.
Once the bulk of the bees, and hopefully the queen, are inside, the container is secured and left near the original site for an hour or two. Any remaining flying bees will sense the queen’s presence and walk into the new box. The container is then sealed and moved to a permanent apiary after dark, ensuring all field bees are inside for the relocation.
Relocating an Established Colony
When bees have built comb within a structure, the process is known as a “cut-out.” This complex and invasive procedure requires opening the structure to access the nest directly. Beekeepers use specialized tools like thermal cameras or stethoscopes to precisely locate the extent of the colony within the wall or ceiling void. Structural material, such as siding, drywall, or soffits, must be carefully removed to fully expose the wax comb and the bees.
The process involves cutting the natural comb away from the structure, segment by segment. Comb containing brood (eggs, larvae, and pupae) is prioritized and secured using rubber bands into standard wooden frames, which are then placed into a transportable hive box. This step ensures the relocated colony has a head start with its young and food stores.
Throughout the cut-out, the beekeeper continuously searches for the queen, as her presence in the new hive box is important for the colony’s survival and stability. Once the queen is secured, the remaining loose bees are gently vacuumed into a specialized bee vacuum that keeps them safe for transport. Due to the structural alteration required and the necessary expertise in handling live comb, it is highly recommended to hire a professional bee removal specialist for a cut-out.
Cleanup and Future Prevention
After the bees have been successfully removed, the area must be thoroughly cleaned to prevent a new swarm from re-inhabiting the space. All traces of wax, honey, and brood comb must be scraped away from the cavity walls. Residual honey and wax left behind will ferment or rot, creating strong odors that attract pests like rodents, ants, and scout bees from new swarms.
To eliminate the scent of the previous hive, the entire cavity should be treated with an enzyme cleaner or an odor neutralizer to remove all lingering pheromone trails. Honey bees leave behind specific scents that signal a suitable nesting location, making the site prime real estate for future colonies. Once the area is clean and dry, the structural entry point must be sealed completely.
Bees can enter through gaps as small as 1/8 inch, so all crevices must be filled with caulk, wood filler, or a fine-mesh metal screen. Repairing the void with the original building material completes the process, ensuring the cavity is no longer accessible. These steps prevent re-infestation and protect the structure from future bee and pest activity.