Honey Bee Swarms

BigBee

Do you have a swarm on your property? Don’t panic! Please read through the following instructions for what to do next.

First, note that this is a sign of a healthy, happy hive! When swarming, honeybees are in their most docile state and pose no risk to you or your neighbors. You can read more information about this further down the page in “About Swarms”.

For Best Bees Clients

First, we need you to email [email protected] with the following specifics about the swarm: 

  • 1-2 photos of the swarm
  • Estimated height off the ground (We are unable to collect swarms that are only accessible via ladder)
  • Address and detailed location
  • Length of time it has been there

During swarm season (April 1st-June 30th) Best Bees offers additional coverage for swarm collection during non-business hours (excluding weekends). This additional coverage is based on specific client needs. Please note if you email or call after business hours, there will be a longer delay in reply from our team. 

  • During weekdays, you can expect to hear back from us within a few hours.
  • During non-business hours, you can expect to hear back from us within a few hours or first thing the following morning.

If you do not receive an email back from our team within 24 hours, please call our main line at (781) 574-8438 

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For Non-Best Bees Clients

For the 2024 season, Best Bees will not be collecting swarms from non-client properties. 

We recommend reaching out to a licensed bee removal company or your local beekeeping association for assistance in the removal of honeybee, wasp, bumblebee, or hornet nests. 

If you need help finding a service to remove your swarm, please see our local resources list below.

About Swarms

What is a Swarm? 

Swarming is a means for beehives to reproduce, a natural part of honeybee biology. At first glance, a swarm can look scary with so many bees visible in one place; however, swarming bees are actually at their most docile. In fact, swarms only cause problems in most urban beekeeping environments because of the perceived risk to the public.

Why Do Bees Swarm?

A swarm occurs when a honeybee colony has outgrown their hive. When a honey bee colony runs out of room to store honey and brood, or they become too populated for the queen’s pheromones to control the entire workforce, the workers signal that it is time to swarm. Once colony is ready to swarm, they will produce a new queen who will stay behind as the old queen leaves with half of the worker bees, creating a new colony. 

Are Swarms Safe?

Honey bees sting to defend their hive. When they are swarming, they are at their most docile, because they do not have a hive to defend – they're just looking for a new home!

 

Learn More About Swarms >>
A bee swarm in a tree

Local Swarm Resources by Region

*If you are on this list and would like to be removed, or not on the list and would like to be added, please email us at [email protected]. 

Atlanta
  • Honey Bee Swarm Removal: Beekeeper Directory
  • Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association: 812-369-0401
  • The Buzz Fuzz: 229-886-7663
  • Southeast Bee Removal: 404-594-2337
  • Swarm Chasers Apiaries: 404-388-3427
  • Gina Gallucci: 404-519-4141
  • Buzzin' Buddies Bee Company: 678-794-7254
Boston 
  • Bee Removal Solutions (removes bees & wasps): 781-472-1550
  • Essex County Beekeepers Association: (978) 778-8276
  • The Bee Guy:  978-626-2775
  • Beverly Bees: 978-778-8276
  • Alexandra Bartsch (contact only for honey bee swarm removal): 781–630–1129
  • Honey Bee Boys: 774-265-5482
  • Rustic Life Farm: 781-275-8580
Chicago 
  • Honey Bee Swarm Removal: IL Beekeeper Directory
  • Chicago Honey Co-Op: Chicago Beekeeper Directory
  • Bee Removal Specialist: 888-585-7087
  • Bike a Bee: 630-234-5347
  • Bee Safe Bee Removal Chicago: 833-233-7233
  • City Bee Savers: 630-660-9846
  • Marcus Schaufele: 847-296-9383
  • Kelsey Green: 773-332-0033
  • Peter Gurba (will remove wasps, hornets, yellowjackets, bumble bees, and honey bees): 224-532-9226
Columbus
  • Terry Eddy: 614-725-8172
  • Will Merrill: 614-226-8219 (C), 614-262-8219 (H)
  • Larry Potter: 614-865-2161, 614-946-0456
  • Linda Overman: 614-561-1744
  • Mary Seufert: 614-634-8471
  • Mark Williams: 614-397-8386
  • Pete and Nancy Ferron: 614-638-7233 (Pete cell), 614-439-3976 (Nancy cell)
  • Susan Valentine-Cooper: 614-596-3600
  • Richard Korn: 614-268-9087
Dallas
  • Best Bees Beekeeper Bud Morris: 214-250-3888
  • Honey Bee Swarm Removal: Beekeeper Directory
  • Honey Bee Rescue Inc: 214-227-7562
  • Colorado State Beekeepers Association: 844-779-2337
  • Shultz Honey & Wax, Inc: 303-425-1896
  • BackYardHive: 720-336-8384
Denver 
Hartford
  • Bee Removal Specialist, Hartford: 888-585-7087
  • The Yellow Jacket Expert: 860-379-6078
Houston
  • Best Bees Beekeeper Nicole Buergers: 678-613-5786
  • Mickey Kleinhenz: 832-689-8604
  • Missy Morris: 713-858-4209
  • Dennis Kenney: 903-330-1705
  • Jim Davis: 844-323-3489
  • Melinda Richardson: 903-388-0462
  • 3BeeGuys Bee Removal: 844-323-3489
  • Houston Beekeepers Association
Los Angeles 
  • Bee Removal Source: Beekeeper Directory
  • Bee Catchers Inc: 818-448-2149
  • Los Angeles County Beekeepers: 626-305-9362
  • Bee Friendly Removal: 858-775-3511
  • CJ Bee Services: 818-351-6923
  • Beecasso: 818-450-7470
  • AA Beekeeper: 323-300-6900
  • Garret Miller: 805-764-1233
New York City
  • Cornell CALS: Beekeeper Directory
  • Honeybee Helper: 347-623-4660
  • Mickey the Beekeeper: 917-740-8009
  • Long Island Bee Removal: 888-599-2337
  • Green Stinger Trading: 347-267-9095
Oklahoma City
Omaha 
Phoenix 
  • Honey Bee Swarm Removal: Beekeeper Directory
  • Bee Removal Source: Beekeeper Directory
  • Beekeepers Association of Central Arizona: 623-326-3125
  • The Beehive LLC: 602-600-5382
  • Kyle's Bee Removal: 480-800-7037
  • Roy Arnold: (623) 326-3125
  • Scott Clark: (602) 953-2602
Philadelphia
  • Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild
  • Bee Safe Bee Removal: 833-233-7233
  • Philadelphia Bee Company: (215) 288-0893
  • Liberty Bell Beekeepers: 215-519-5369
  • Jeff Eckel: 215-350-7846
  • Don Shump: 267-307-8405
Pittsburgh
Portland, OR 
  • Bee Removal Source: Beekeeper Directory
  • Portland Urban Beekeepers: 503-444-8446
  • Melissa Bees: 503-313-0378
  • The Honey Bee Society: 503-489-8348
  • Portland Natural Bee Removal: 503-451-0595
Raleigh-Durham: 
  • Wake County Beekeepers
  • Keith Buchanan: 919-995-1639
  • Peter Kopcinski: 267-885-6858
  • Tom Krupa: 984-464-1519
  • Charles Heatherly: 919-612-7338
  • Robin Drechsler: 919-801-1703
  • Barbara Burgess: 571-213-3678
  • Robert Belcher: 864-508-2732
San Francisco 
  • Best Bees Beekeeper Lars Archer: (415) 601-8448
  • San Francisco Beekeepers Association: 415-997-9276
  • Norcal Bees: 655-255-9106
  • The Honey Ladies: 408-531-5045
  • The friendly Bee Guy: 408-857-0238
  • Marin Coastal Bee Company: 415-871-4662
  • Alameda County Beekeepers' Association: 510-898-6696
  • Palo Alto Bees: 301-272-5508
  • NorCal Honeybee Rescue: 655-255-9106
  • The Smiling Bee: 650-704-2371
  • Haworthclan Honey: 408-279-6323
Seattle 
  • Bee Removal Source: Beekeeper Directory
  • Puget Sound Beekeepers Association: 206-459-7151
  • Eastside Bee Removal: 425-306-5679
  • Bee's Knees Apiaries: 415-663-5535
  • Bee Removal Specialist: 888-585-7087
Salt Lake City
  • Natalee Thompson: 801-328-8509
  • Will Flint: 505-967-9958
  • Micah Goodman: 435-494-1611
  • Bee Removal Source UT
Washington D.C. 
  • DC Beekeepers Alliance: 202-255-4318
  • Eco Honeybees: 703-801-2281
  • Bee Removal Source: 202-528-7031
  • The Beekeepers: 800-496-2337
  • Bee Curious LLC: 202-276-7326
  • Michael Hurst: 301-980-4184
  • Zoe Bennington: 202-468-0649
  • Del Voss: 202-431-7131
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