Report a Swarm or Remove Bumblebees

What is a Swarm?

Swarming is the process by which a new honey bee colony is formed when the queen bee leaves the colony with a large group of worker bees. In the prime swarm, about 60% of the worker bees leave the original hive location with the old queen. This swarm can contain thousands to tens of thousands of bees. Swarming is mainly a spring phenomenon, usually within a two- or three-week period depending on the locale, but occasional swarms can happen throughout the producing season. Secondary afterswarms may happen but are rare. Afterswarms are usually smaller and are accompanied by one or more virgin queens. Sometimes a beehive will swarm in succession until it is almost totally depleted of workers.

What do I do?

First: Do not panic.

Second: Be calm and carefully observe the insects.  Compare the insects to this picture.  Which insects are they?

Third: Call or text us at (306) 540-3111.  Have these details handy:

• How do we get to the swarm? (address or rural land location)
• How long has it been there?
• Where is it? (in a tree, in a shed, under a deck, in a wall, etc.)
• Do we need a ladder to get to it? If so, how tall of a ladder?
• Is there a nest visible, such as a grey paper nest or honey comb?
• What is your phone number?
• Is the swarm on your property?

Please do not spray these bees with anything!

Please note that if it is a swarm of honeybees, and if we can dispatch someone to collect the swarm, there is no charge.

We will remove bumblebee nests and re-locate them to a safe location.  A fee of $100/hr will be charged for onsite visits to remove wasp or bumblebee nests as these serve no purpose to the volunteer beekeeper.

Bumblebees are not generally defensive, but it is possible if you are very near their nest or if you disturb their nest.  Usually the best course is to leave bumblebees where they are for the remainder of the season and if they are inside a building, seal the hole in the fall to prevent a new nest the following year.

If you have a nest of wasps which is bothering you, spraying them with a solution of water and dish detergent will temporarily disable and kill flying wasps, so that the nest can be removed and destroyed.