Swarm Removal List Agreement

Items that may be needed: strong cardboard box/hive body/bucket, a bee brush, a beekeeper suit, a sheet/plastic, secateurs, knife, saw, ladder, cage, and 1+ year experience in beekeeping

Steps needed to be followed:

1. Respond to call, ask the questions listed on website, gather location of swarm, give an ETA, or pass the swarm to another beekeeper.

2. Look on map to see if any local beekeeper is within 600 yards of the swarm. If they are, reach out to that beekeeper. (https://fieldwatch.com/)

3. When you arrive onsite, assess the situation.

a. Take a picture of the area before you do anything.

b. If it’s dangerous to do alone, do not attempt to catch the swarm, call another beekeeper for assistance.

4. Ensure the swarm is settled, take a minute or two and watch the behavior of the bees, and ensure all the bees are in one location.

5. Set expectations with the property owner (sign contract if needed). Give an outline of what you will be doing next. Ask them to step at least 30 feet back. Ask if anyone is allergic to bees. Ask them for permission to cut any branch/bush if needed.

6. Look for the queen. If you can find her, cage her, and place her to the side.

7. If possible, it’s best to shake bees into a box/bucket or to cut a branch and place in a box, but if not, use a bee brush.

8. Once the bees are in the box, take it down, gently turn it around so that the opening is facing where the bees were resting. If you were able to catch the queen, place the queen’s cage inside the box/hive.

Stand back and watch for a while. What you should see is the worker bees near the entrance start fanning. Within half an hour most of the bees flying should have joined the bees in the box. However, if you didn’t manage to secure the queen, it won’t happen. Instead, the bees will all go back to the

original site of the swarm or wherever the queen has ended up. In this case you’ll have to wait until the cluster reforms and settles down again before making another attempt.

9. Leave the box until dusk or until the next morning before removing. In the meantime, if the weather is hot, you should try to arrange the box so that it is shaded from direct sun.

10. Swarms are normally fairly healthy but, once established, you should inspect and, if necessary, feed and/or treat for the usual parasites and diseases.

Please read, enter your information and sign below.

I agree to the common practice above and agree to follow the above method for removing bees. I understand that the method above will help gather the most bees possible and will help decrease any follow ups that could be needed. I understand that if any follow ups are needed, that I will be the one following up. I understand that I must follow the above steps to the best of my knowledge in order to stay on the swarm list on the UCNCBA site. I will not advise any homeowner nor will I use any kind of spray or chemical on the bees before or after arriving at the property

in order to kill them. I understand that this agreement is only for me, as a beekeeper, to be listed on the swarm page on the UCNCBA website and nothing else. I understand that when I do swarm removals and/or structure removals that I am not acting under Union County NC Beekeepers Association, but as an agreement between myself and/or my personal business with the property owner where the swarm is located.