Need help with a SWARM?

Do you have something that looks like the picture above on your property? It’s called a swarm and we have beekeepers who will gladly remove it for you!

Take a picture of the bees in question to compare.

Take a picture of the bees in question then compare it with the picture at left.

Is it a honey bee swarm, or…..something else?

Confirm that the insects are truly honeybees before contacting one of the beekeepers on our swarm list

A honeybee swarm will often congregate in a tree, looking somewhat like the image above.

Before you call someone on our list, PLEASE have the following information available:

Are they honey bees??

  • Verify using the graphic above. Many calls are actually for paper wasps and yellow jackets. Beekeepers on our list will only remove honey bees. If you determine your bees are not honey bees, there is no need to proceed here. Instead, call an exterminator rather than a beekeeper on our list.

  • Where are they? – e.g. Up in a tree (how high), in a bush, on a fence, in the eaves of a house?

  • How many are there? How big is the cluster? Common descriptions are “size of a basketball, volleyball, trash can”, etc.

  • How long have they been there?

  • Are there still lots of bees flying around in the air?

  • Is it in a public place or private (your) property?

SWARM REMOVAL

Removing a swarm of bees from a tree or the outside of a building is relatively simple, although a beekeeper working on even a simple extraction will sometimes need to make multiple visits to the property to ensure that all bees have been captured.

CUTOUTS

If honey bees have taken up residence inside a wall or roof, the extraction procedure becomes much more complex and involves cutting into the wall to remove bees and comb. This kind of swarm removal usually involves a fee and should be done by a licensed contractor. We are fortunate to have three beekeepers who are willing to take on cutout projects.

  • Dave Zimmerman (616-262-6975) is a licensed Michigan residential contractor specializing in remodeling for over 23 years. Also a beekeeper, he can attend to hive cut-out removals and repairs in Allegan, Kent, Ottawa, and Muskegon counties.

  • Christopher Conflitti (616-450-7174) is a licensed builder and beekeeper who can attend to hive cut-out removals and repairs in Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, and Newaygo counties.

  • David Steenwyk (616-589-4660) is a licensed builder. He can attend to hive cut-out removals and repairs in Ottawa, Allegan, and Kent counties.