SEE A SWARM?
Call or text us ASAP at 207-747-7057
Around the time of the first dandelion bloom in Maine, beekeepers start to anticipate swarms - a group of bees clustered together (often on the branch of a tree, but anywhere is fair game).
Swarming is the natural way that honey bee colonies reproduce. If you are lucky enough to see a swarm, do not panic, or spray, or call pest control! Most swarms are calm - they have no hive, no eggs, no honey to protect and are simply waiting to find a new home. Contact your local beekeeper or beekeeping association to re-home them. This will keep them from moving into the side of someone’s house and increase their odds of surviving our rough winters.
Keepers is on call to help catch swarms in the greater Portland area - call or text 207-747-7057 if you see a swarm.
A few details we'll need to know:
-
Confirm that they are honey bees - here, a picture is very helpful
-
What size is their cluster? Helpful measurements are...the size of a softball? ...a basketball? ...a beach ball?
Donations for time and gas are appreciated but not necessary - the most important is giving the bees a safe, secure new home.
COLONY REMOVAL
If you discover bees in your house, garage, barn, or tree, this is an established honey bee colony - they are building comb, raising young bees, and storing honey.
Live removal of the bees is the best option for your bees and the integrity of your building. A few reasons why:
-
A thriving bee colony is big - spraying a chemical to kill them will leave a mass of bees the size of a small cat or dog rotting in the side of your building
-
The unguarded honey and comb will attract other pests - wax moths, ants, and more - that will damage your building
Keepers is happy to remove them, and provide them with a new, better home. Contact us for a quote - pricing varies based on the carpentry and beekeeping particularities of each job.