Honey Bee Removal
* NOTE: SWARM AND/OR STRUCTURE REMOVAL ARE NOT OFFERED AS A SERVICE BY THE UNION COUNTY BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION. IT IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BEEKEEPER AND THE PROPERTY OWNER WHERE THE BEES ARE BEING REMOVED FROM.
* Please be patient as most beekeepers have full time jobs and families. They will do their best to get to your swarm or removal as soon as possible.
Thank you for your interest in contacting a beekeeper to remove your bees.If you have a swarm, every minute matters... they could end up in your home! Please be prepared to send a picture to the beekeeper you contact and be prepared to answer the following questions.
1) Are you sure they are honeybees? Check out the About Swarm Page
2) When did you first see the bees?
3) About how many one-gallon paint cans can you fill up with the bees?
4) Where are the bees located and about how high up are they?
5) Are they inside a structure?
6) Are they in a tight ball or are they flying?
7) Is anyone there allergic to bees?
8) Will the property owner be present?
9) Can the shrub or limb be cut (which is usually necessary to remove any pheromones left by the queen)? How large is the limb?
10) Have the bees been disturbed (sprayed or otherwise harassed) by anyone?
Contact one the following UCNCBA members to relocate the bees, please refer to map above to find the primary zone of the beekeeper and call them first:
Club Hotline- 704-389-0243 - ucncbeekeepers@gmail.com
What should I expect during a Swarm Bee Removal?
Once the above questions are answered and the pictures have been received, the beekeeper will arrive at your house with a hive/box. The beekeeper will first look for the queen and if the queen is easy to find, the beekeeper will "cage" her to help prevent the swarm from leaving. The beekeeper will place the queen and the cage inside the box and will then shake the bees into the box. The bees will be left in the closed box/hive until dark or until the next morning. The beekeeper should cut the branch on which the bees were on and place inside the hive or remove from property. The beekeeper will make another trip to the property either that evening or another time when it is dark outside to gather the bees. This process helps ensure a greater quality of bees are captured and taken away. The bees are then relocated to the beekeepers apiary and are closely monitored the following weeks to ensure a smooth transition into their new home.
