Wake County Beekeepers |
Honey bee Swarm removal in Wake County
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The Wake County Beekeepers Association (WCBA) is here to serve the community when a swarm of honey bees shows up. Many of our members are willing and able to remove swarms for FREE. |
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Who do I call for help in removing a honey bee swarm?
Use the map below to identify the zone location of the swarm. Then call the Swarm Captain for that zone.
| Zone | Zone Captain | Phone |
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Zone 1 – Northern Wake (North Raleigh, Wake Forest, Rolesville) |
Krissy | 919-800-7598 |
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Zone 2 – Western Wake (Cary, Apex, Morrisville) |
Jim - Primary |
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| Zone 3 – Southern Wake (Garner, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina) |
Erica - Primary |
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| Zone 4 – Eastern Wake (Knightdale, Wendell, Zebulon) | Chris | 919-369-0892 |
| Zone 5 – Raleigh (inside the beltline) |
Ben - Primary Bill - Alternate |
Note: If you do not receive an answer when calling the zone captain, please leave a message and wait 5 minutes for a return call before calling other captains.
How do I identify a honey bee swarm?
A swarm of bees often appears as a cluster of bees, similar to the photo above. Or, there may be thousands of bees circling in the air that eventually settle into a cluster. When they are clustered they can often be found high up in a tree or lower to the ground in a bush or on a structure.
Bees that have moved INTO a structure, such as the walls or the roof, will require professional removal. To locate a company that can remove bees from a structure, you may want to inquire via Facebook in this group:
What should I do when I see a honey bee swarm?CALL RIGHT AWAY, DON'T SPRAY! Honey bee swarms are calm. They will leave you alone if you leave them alone. They are just stopping on their way to finding a new permanent home.
Determine whether they are honeybees. WCBA members will only remove honeybee swarms or hives. Honey bees are hairy, while hornets and wasps are hairless and shiny. If you send us a picture, we can check whether you have honey bees, or something else. We cannot not assist with removal of wasps, hornets or other insects.
Is it a swarm? Some bees may be flying around but that does not mean there is a swarm. A swarm is a clump or cluster of bees, usually between the size of a soft ball or beach ball. Often, they can be found hanging on a branch or against a structure. Swarms appear most often from early March through July.
Call as soon as you notice the swarm! When bees swarm, time is of the essence. Swarms are relatively easy to catch, but will only stay in the open for a few hours before finding a refuge. Once they find a defensible nesting site – inside a tree, wall or attic – capture is much more difficult.
What information should I provide when I call in a swarm?
WHO: Please provide your name, address and telephone number.
WHAT: Are you sure it’s honeybees? Take a photo of the swarm and text it to the swarm captain for your area. (See the map below.)
WHEN: When did you first see the bees, and how long have they been there?
WHERE: What is the address where they are located? Who is the property owner? If not, who is the owner? The more detail about the location, the easier it will be for the volunteer to collect the swarm.
HOW MANY: What size is the swarm ball – like a softball? basketball? beach ball?HOW HIGH: How high off the ground are they? Are they in a tree or bush? Can the tree or shrub limb be cut if necessary? Will a ladder be needed?
