Swarm Removal

REMOVING HONEY BEE SWARMS FROM YOUR PROPERTY

Our club has several members who can help the public with “nuisance” honey bees; the bees will be removed humanely from your property.

Contact Jordan Godwin at 910-264-2910 or Jim Warren at 910-619-9002 or send them an email if you notice either of the following and would like us to help:

 

  • A large mass or clump (swarm) of honey bees in your yard, perhaps hanging on a tree branch, mailbox, swing set or the underside of a picnic table or bbq grill.
  • OR you observe a large number of honey bees entering and exiting a small opening, such as on a porch column, eave of a roof or hollow tree.

*We do NOT remove bees from Structures. We can refer you to someone who can provide you with an estimate to safely and professionally remove bees from your structure or home.

DO NOT SPRAY SWARMS WITH WATER OR PESTICIDES!

One of our club members will assess the situation and humanely capture the swarm and remove it from your property, if possible, at no charge. If the swarm has already found it’s new home in a tree or structure on your property, removal may be more complicated.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO KILL THE BEES WITH PESTICIDES!

This will only kill the foraging adult bees that you see. Structural bee removal requires removing the hive the honey bees have constructed inside the cavity (wax, honey, larvae) and repairing the opening so another swarm would not find it attractive, repeating the cycle. You may incur some costs in this situation, which will be agreed to up front between you and the beekeeper.

Bee Swarm Removal in New Hanover County
Bee Swarm
Bee Swarm Removal in New Hanover County

About Swarms

Swarming is the natural process by which a new honey bee colony is formed when a queen bee leaves the original hive location with a large group of worker bees. The swarm can contain thousands to tens of thousands of bees.

After they leave the original hive, the swarm will usually find a place to rest (often in the strangest places) while scout bees look for a new hive location.

A honey bee swarm is generally not aggressive, especially when left alone. Do not approach the swarm as they take temporary respite near your home, and keep children and pets away.

From Our Blog

Members Work with Scouts on Apiary at Halyburton Park

Members Work with Scouts on Apiary at Halyburton Park

Recently some of our members have been working with the Boy Scouts on a brand new Apiary at Halyburton Park. Take a look at some of the progress photos below, and join us for the grand ribbon cutting ceremony later this month! Check out our blog for more information...

read more
History of the New Hanover County Beekeepers Association

History of the New Hanover County Beekeepers Association

Learn about the history of the New Hanover County Beekeepers Association. Download the presentation here.Major Accomplishments   HOSTED THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION in 2014 A club effort spearheaded by then President Ashley Stephenson and David...

read more

August meeting focuses on beekeeping equipment

About thirty members gathered for the August 19, 2021 meeting as we gave attendees the opportunity to say goodbye to some old equipment and hello to some new. Here is a picture of one of our newest members, the proud winner of a honey extractor from the club's raffle:...

read more