Bee Problem? Try Bee Removal or Relocation

You might love the sweet taste of honey in your morning tea or smothered on biscuits, but having a busy, buzzing beehive in your home is anything but sweet.

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Grabbing a can of pest spray isn't the right solution — many bees are beneficial and shouldn't be killed. Plus, you don't want an angry mob of stinging, flying insects chasing you. Bee removal is a safe way to evict your stinging house guests, so everyone can live peacefully.

What Is Bee Removal?

Live bee removal means a beekeeper or bee removal expert takes the bees out of your structure without killing them. They use different methods to extract the bees into a container, so they can safely relocate them. They'll also remove the honeycomb to avoid leaving behind a mess and attracting more bees or other pests. While some beekeepers will remove bees for free or for a low fee, bee removal can be quite expensive in some cases.

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How Do Experts Remove Beehives?

Bee removal experts use different methods to remove the bees. One method is a one-way contraption that lets the bees out but not back in. A temporary hive is set up outside the area where those bees gather until all of them have been removed. This method can take a few months to eliminate all the bees.

If you want the bees to be removed quickly, the bee removal specialist can cut an access hole to reveal the hive. The size of the hole can be quite large to get all the comb out of the cavity. They typically use a vacuum device to suck up the bees and remove them from the hive. They'll also remove the comb. It's a good idea to clean the inside of the cavity thoroughly using bleach to get rid of the various smells that could attract more bees.

For swarms of bees outside of your home, a beekeeper can remove the bees relatively easily. They'll typically push the bees into a cardboard box, which allows them to move the bees to a different location. They might also leave the box out for several hours to allow all the bees to enter.

Can You Remove a Beehive Yourself?

It's not a good idea to remove a beehive yourself if it's still an active hive. You might only see a handful of bees, but mature colonies can have up to 100,000 bees in them. Even smaller hives can have hundreds or thousands of bees. When threatened, bees will defend themselves. Angering a hive full of bees can put you in a very dangerous situation. Professionals understand bee behavior and know how to take care of the infestation safely.

Some home remedies for getting rid of bees are also inhumane. Examples include covering the hive with a tarp to starve the bees or pouring boiling water on it. Never use these methods, as they not only kill the beneficial insects, but they also torture them instead of killing them quickly and humanely.

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How Effective Is Beehive Removal for Getting Rid of Bees?

The effectiveness of bee removal depends largely on the expertise of the person you hire. Highly skilled and knowledgeable bee removal specialists can effectively remove the bees and the honeycomb. Check the credentials and read online reviews if possible to find the best bee removal service in your area. You'll also need to seal up the entrance points to prevent more bees from entering your home.

Can You Hire an Exterminator to Get Rid of Bees?

You can hire an exterminator to kill the bees if you don't want to get rid of bees yourself. They'll use professional pesticides to kill the bees. Ensure the exterminator has experience with handling bees, since they can be dangerous. Some pest control companies won't exterminate honey bees, so you might have difficulty finding a company to kill the bees for you.

Is It Better to Remove or Exterminate Bees?

While you can hire an exterminator to kill the bees in your home, it's usually better to look for a bee removal specialist. They understand bee behavior and have the tools to get rid of the bees safely. They also humanely remove the bees and relocate them to keep these important pollinators alive.

However, it's not always possible to save the bees or find an expert who can handle live bee removal. If you exterminate the bees, you could end up with dead bees in your walls. The leftover honey and honeycomb also cause issues within the structure as it ferments and oozes down through the walls. If you choose extermination, make sure the exterminator removes all the dead bees, honey and honeycomb.

Extermination is usually a cheaper option than live bee removal. It can also be the best option if the hive is difficult to access. However, it's generally best to avoid killing honey bees if you can to help keep the species alive.

How Do You Prevent Future Bee Infestations?

Bees can come back and enter the same way as your first buzzing invaders — usually through small holes around windows or in other areas of your home. You'll need to seal up those entrances to prevent more bees from coming into your home. Even when you remove the honeycomb, some beeswax remains. This can attract more bees, so blocking their entrances is important.