What to do with about 10,000 house guests...

[coppercoins]

Came home from work this afternoon to find a huge glob of bees stuck to the front of the house next door. Must be ten thousand or more of them from what I could see, and they were swarming all over my front yard. Heck, I didn't get out of the truck - I called 911. They sent a pumper truck out. I thought the pumper was going to hose them down. All they did was stick a yellow "do not cross" line out over our two front yards and they left. I guess I couldn't really have expected anything more out of them, but I still have the same problem.

What do you do with 10,000 bees that just "showed up" at your door?

[coppercoins]

Oh...and how did I end up coming inside? For some reason the bees settled down, landed on the house next door, and I saw that as my cue to dash around the other side of the house to the back door - I went inside that way.

[simonm]

I would say an exterminator...sounds pretty scary. I wouldn't suggest trying to deal with it yourself or with "homemade" solutions.

[jallengomez]

Chuck,

I have a couple of beehives. What they are doing is swarming, i.e., they've overpopulated their current hive and a group of them are moving on. They're relatively harmless and gentle when they are in this phase, as they don't have a hive to protect. This will be a temporary stop for them, and I suspect they'll shortly move on.

[coppercoins]

Okay, so I was informed by someone who kinda knows what's up...

These are likely not the dangerous sort of bees, because if they were, they would have been all over the fire truck when it pulled up with the loud engine, noisy doors, etc. If that hadn't gotten them going, the firemen walking around in the yard would have set them off. So I'm comfortable with the idea that we may have these around for a while.

So...how long is a "while"? When would they generally want to "shortly move on?"

If these are european sort of honey bees, would there be someone around who would want them for honey production? Would they generally charge for removal? If so, how much?

[RWBILLER]

Chuck
I had that happen a while back on a tree in the front of my house. The next day they were still there and a bee guy came over and vacuumed them up and took them to his farm. He told me they could stay a day or two but will move because there is no protection. I was worried because my house at that time was a old home and I worried they would find a attic hole like all the squirrels would find in the winter. Don't let anyone hurt them - they are needed by nature.

[jallengomez]

Chuck,

Look in your local yellow pages and see if you can find a beekeeper. Usually they'd be happy to add another hive, and they likely would not only not charge for it, but would probably reward you with a few jars of honey.

As for the time-frame. Normally no more than a couple of days.

[Maineman750]

Best idea is to try to find a local beekeeper...they would be glad to catch them as they are pretty expensive and as Jody mentioned...docile....as long as they are not the Africanized killer bees....so best not to take chances. Our local Penn State Ag Center keeps a list of beekeepers who will catch a swarm...I'm sure there is something down your way similar.

[seal006]

I think Chuck may have stumbled upon a new hobby.

[coppercoins]

Ermm...no. Not a new hobby for me. I like honey, but bees make me nervous. Even the gentle ones have stingers.

Just got a call-back from a "pest removal" service. Thy charge $389 for removal. I didn't fall off the truck yesterday.

I looked in the phone book - only one "beekeeper" listed, disconnected number. One "beekeeping supplies" place and it's closed. Pest control is all that's open now, and I recognize that these bees are not "pests" - they are just passing through. I've seen it once before here - at work. Couple hundred bees one day, none the next. I'll consider this a rest stop and see if they move on tomorrow.

So...do bees move around much at night? Or do they sleep?

[Maineman750]

They pretty much sleep...and chances are they will move on their own...just watch and make sure they didn't find a hole in your house somewhere.

[liveandievarieties]

Really cool that you're not exterminating them Chuck. I had envisioned a haz-mat suit clad Chuck with dueling cans of raid...

[seal006]

Really cool that you're not exterminating them Chuck. I had envisioned a haz-mat suit clad Chuck with dueling cans of raid...

I would pay good money to see that, and even more to video tape it.

[wapa]

Man call me, I am looking for a swarm, but 3000+ miles makes to hard to come get them. We have empty hives looking for bees. You may watch the local craigslist, nickle saver (or local weekly ad newspaper type of thing if you have them, the classifieds in the newspaper as there is usually some one looking for swarms. Google bee keeper clubs in the area, they may have a website. I see ads for people looking for swarms several times per week right now. It is an amazing thing to see a swarm like that. Very cool. Hope you find a taker for them.

[JeanK]

Hi Chuck,
Do you see any large farms near you? Especially fruit trees, vineyards, and anything else that produces pollen. If so they probably have beehives, or someone they know will have them. Often bee keepers will contract with farmers to place their hives on the the farmers property. Anyway, if the bees have not moved on, try to contact a farmer near you and find out if they can help.
Good Luck,
Jean