Swarm List | Westsoundbees

2021 SWARM LIST

Help I have a swarm of honeybees!!!

West Sound Beekeepers are here to help. First let’s make sure they are actually honeybees. Sometimes you will simply hear the mass of bees in the air, or you will suddenly find a large ball (about the size of a football) of bees hanging from a tree limb, swing set, fence post, or just about anywhere. This is most likely a honeybee swarm and your next move should be to call someone from the swarm catchers team. If you see a paper nest or they are coming out of the ground, then most likely they are wasps or bumble bees. More on them later.

Time is of the essence! Take a look at the Kitsap county swarm map and choose a swarm catcher as close to you as possible so they can respond quickly.

When the honey bees are swarming they are not aggressive, they are simply trying to find their queen and eventually a new home. The queen has left a nearby hive and is looking to build a new home. The queen will take 10,000 to 20,000 of her worker bees with her to establish this new home. The queen will eventually land somewhere and the workers will gather around her forming the ball you may see. This is when we need to arrive on site. They may remain there for only a few hours, maybe as much as a day or more while scout bees look for a permanent homesite. We need to collect them while they are in this ball state. We don’t want them to set up a permanent home in your chimney, walls, or anywhere they will become a nuisance and end up costing you the homeowner thousands of dollars in demo and repair. Swarms collected outside of structures are collected free of charge.

Please do not spray the bees with anything, even water. This will only aggravate the bees and cause them to move higher in a tree.

What happens when we arrive on site? We will simply scoop, shake, or pour the bees into a temporary hive. All the bees will follow the queen who is in the center of the ball. We will leave the hive box until dark and pick it up that evening or early the next morning to insure we have as many possible bees as possible. You may see a few remaining bees around but once the temporary hive has been removed they will simply go back to their home hive.

Why call a beekeeper from West Sound Beekeepers? We are skilled beekeepers that are working under a code of ethics to ensure the job is done safely and that the bees will go to a good home. Most swarms that are hanging out in the open are collected at no charge. However, swarms that have moved into a structure may require a fee (we call these cut outs). We will also work with building contractors to safely collect bees once they are uncovered so they can safely repair any damage that may have been necessary to gain access. Prices depend on many variables. Check with the individual beekeeper for quotes and advice on this type of removal.