What to Do If You Find a Bee Swarm in Your Yard

A swarm — a basketball-sized cluster of bees hanging from a branch, fence, or eave — looks alarming, but swarming bees are usually at their calmest. Here’s exactly what to do.

Do:

Keep your distance, and keep kids and pets inside.

Take a photo from a safe distance.

Call a local beekeeper quickly.

Don’t:

Don’t spray them with water, pesticide, or anything else. It makes them defensive and turns an easy, cheap removal into a hard one.

Don’t seal the entry if they’ve started going into a wall — you’ll trap them inside.

Don’t wait. A swarm is the easiest, cheapest stage to remove. Once they build comb inside a structure, it becomes a costlier cutout.

Who to call

A live bee removal beekeeper will collect the swarm and relocate it — no extermination needed. Text a photo and your address to (805) 765-1450 and I’ll tell you what’s involved right away.

Sunshine Honey — humane live bee removal across Ventura County. Fully insured, 15+ years’ experience. Call or text (805) 765-1450.