Free Honey Bee Swarm Removal

SWARM SEASON IS OVER FOR 2024. KBA WILL RESUME SWARM CALLS MARCH 2025

The KBA only removes transient open-air free-hanging European honey bee (Apis Mellifera) swarm clusters. We do not remove established honey bee colonies inside of a structure or tree or other types of stinging insects such as wasps, yellow jackets, hornets or bumble bees. It’s imperative to review the information below before contacting the KBA to ensure you have honey bees that are a transient free-hanging open-air reproductive swarm shown in the green below. If you contact us for swarm removal, please provide a phone number, address and pictures showing close-up as well as from further away showing the ground and surroundings to ensure that you will receive a response.

Information about reproductive honey bee swarms vs established hives

A honey bee swarm is a reproductive cluster of honey bees occuring March-June, typically free hanging in the open air on a thin structure such as a tree branch or fence post. Swarms are typically gentle and do not readily sting because they do not have a home to protect and are full of honey to bring to their new home. When honey bees swarm they are in transit and form a cluster (ball of bees) in the open-air while scouts find a new home. In most cases, free-hanging swarms will not stay for more than a day or two (if weather is not rainy or cold) before they leave and move inside a structure to make their permanent home out of beeswax. Once the honey bees move into a structure such as a tree hollow or hole in a structure they are now an established bee hive colony, they are much more difficult to move and are no longer refered to as a “swarm”. There may be a few bees up to a hundred walking outside the hole of an established colony especially on warm humid days and there will be 10-100 bees/minute flying into and out of the hole. A honey bee colony will have more activity than other stinging insects. Usually the higher the temperature and larger the population the more the bees will fly. Typically bees do not leave the hive to fly below 50 degrees F. Typically, honey bees look for a home that is protected from weather, not exposed to light, with a volume of at least 5 gallons, above the ground. Common places for honey bees to enter a home is the eaves, the gable, around windows, between floors anywhere there is a gap, hole, hole or rot. Honey bees usually build the combs within the wall studs, ceiling, roof or floor near within not more than a foot or two of where they enter the structure. The bees can be located by putting your ear to the wall or using a thermal IR camera. The honey bees won’t directly damage a building; they usually take advantage of existing damage to gain entry into the structure.

Whenever possible, we recommend leaving a bee hive be. Typically, hives higher than 15ft off the ground that are away from walkways and where people/pets commonly go will not become a problem. There are not ultra agressive africanized honey bees in Kentucky, like those you may see on the news in the southwest, because of Kentucky’s cold winters. There are many bee trees and houses in Louisville, especially within the older urban areas. Also note that other stinging insects such as wasps, hornets, bumble bees, etc die-out once temperatures are freezing and will make a new hive each year in a new location the following spring. Only honey bees over-winter in the same location. If you ever have a colony of honey bees or other stinging insects that die out over winter, it is recommended to plug the hole permanently to prevent a new colony from repopulating the same area the following year(s).

If you are outside of Louisville and Southern Indiana you can find your local bee club here.

Information about established hive removals inside of structures & trees

If a swarm of bees has established a home of comb in an unwanted location, such as inside a tree on your property, inside a structure's chimney, or within the walls or eaves of your home, the bees can be removed in a process called trapping or cut-out removal. Please be advised that removing bees in this manner can involve disassembling parts of your home or building. Make sure you have a clear understanding with your beekeeper about the complete process and who will be responsible for what will happen from beginning to end of the entire project. A fee is usually paid to the beekeeper for this type of removal because of the amount of time and labor involved. We do not recommended spraying hives in buildings or homes with insecticide; not only are beneficial pollinators killed, but the honey, wax and dead bees will remain in the wall and attract all-kinds of bugs and rodents including mice, roaches, moths, beetles and yellow-jackets. Rarely does the insecticide actually kill the colony completely because it cannot directly reach the queen, bees and comb inside the structure. The best course is either to leave the hive alone or remove the colony entirely.

The KBA currently does not provide removal services for honey bees inside a structure or tree or for other stinging insects. We only do swarms. Please refer to the listing by the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association https://kybees.org/Buy-Local for beekeepers who can remove hives from structures. Under the “Buy Local Products and Services” filter on this page, filter for “Bee Removal From A Structure” to see an extensive listing of providers; do not filter by county. Some providers will travel for removal services.

In Jefferson County, you also can contact the people listed below to assess your situation if you have bees in a structure.

Jeremy (502) 727-8836

Drew (502) 727-3707

Disclaimer

The Kentuckiana Beekeepers Association (KBA) helps connect honey bee related requests with member beekeepers as a volunteer service to the community. The KBA makes no claims to the level of experience or skill that a member beekeeper may have in either swarm rescue or colony removal. It is the responsibility of the person requesting service, and the member beekeeper, to determine what service will be provided, if it is pro bono (free) or if the member beekeeper charges a fee. When using this service, please be aware the KBA is void of guarantees, claims, or legal responsibility as an organization.