NEED Help with COLLECTING Swarms?


Do you have a Swarm?  (See photo above)  
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For the removal of established Bee Hives in walls, trees or other locations see the bottom of this page.

1. Relax - when bees are swarming they are generally very docile and show no aggressive tendencies. They will merely find a suitable spot to gather, as a temporary measure, while they send out scouts to find a more permanent location as a new home. They are not too choosy about where this temporary spot will be, it could be in a tree/bush, on a clothesline, a fence, a bicycle, anywhere that they can land to form a cluster to protect their queen.   If you have honey bees that seem to have made a home already, eg, in a tree or log, or inside a structure (wall, roof eave, etc), removing them is a TrapOut (TO) or CutOut (CO) situation. Beekeepers willing to consider assisting in this situation are shown below these notes.

2. MAKE OBSERVATIONS - of where they are --eg, would a ladder be needed to get to them?; roughly the size of the swarm (tennis ball, basketball, etc); and how long it has been in this spot.  A small cluster may be stragglers from a swarm that has moved on, with the queen.  PHOTOS that help indicate cluster size and the general vicinity showing site considerations (power lines, slopes, obstructions, etc) are very helpful.

3. PROPERTY RIGHTS and LIABILITY- If the bees are not on your property, you will need to provide the beekeeper with contact info for that land.  We have to talk with the property owner or tenant.  Although we post names for swarm collection as a public service, any arrangements made are between you and the beekeeper that agrees to do the collection.  They are responsible for their actions and they, not SABA, are liable if any injury or problems occur.

4. FIND A LOCAL BEEKEEPER - Use our geographically-oriented Swarm Lists to identify a beekeeper who is willing to travel to your area.  Our swarm beekeepers lists are suspended as of September because there is little likelihood of swarming until the Spring.  You may try to contact swarm keepers listed at the bottom of this section.

Our swarm keepers may not be able to fit a swarm collection into their schedule soon after you call, so you may (will probably) have to make a few calls to find someone who can help. If the person you call cannot respond for many hours, please tell them you will try somebody else on that list.  Scout bees are actively looking for a home, and may leave your location in a few hours.  Think of the bees you're trying to save! We hope you believe it's worthwhile to make a few calls to find someone who can help them today.

You can also check with beekeeping stores, County agricultural commissions, or your local animal or vector control.  (Some of these resources are shown below). 
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5. AT A SAFE DISTANCE - Sit back, watch and wait for the beekeeper to arrive. Any beekeeper will tell you that there is something very magical about a swarm. There is an electric feeling in the air, as the bees swirl round before clustering in a ball. Watching a swarm collected is an experience that you will not soon forget. You will have seen at first hand just how docile and truly magical these insects can be!
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6. TELL OTHERS  of your positive experience. All too often, bees get bad press. Honey bees are not the same as the wasps at the summer picnic; more information about their differences is at the bottom of this page. 
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Do you have wasps or bees?

Here’s how to tell the difference between a bee and a wasp! If you have a nest or infestation, please use this checklist to identify whether they are bees or wasps before you contact the above resources or an exterminator.
Picture
Bee
Picture
Wasp
Bee
  • fuzzy
  • help humans by pollinating plants
  • eat pollen and nectar
  • gentle in nature and rarely sting
  • legs are typically hidden while flying
Wasp
  • little or no hair
  • help humans by eating other insects
  • eat unattended human food
  • aggressive, and ready to sting
  • legs hang down while flying

 list of swarm collectors

(A list of established colony removal Beekeepers at the bottom)


Swarm CATCHERS Sign in Here

- SAve the Bees -

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This list of beekeepers is compiled from information submitted to us by the individuals who appear on this list. The Sacramento Area Beekeeper's Association does not employ or represent any of the individuals on this list.  Some, but not all may be members of the Association.  The list is in no way a recommendation or endorsement of the beekeepers’ skill, training or experience.  Please check with individual beekeepers for their qualifications.
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​For fastest response select the nearest area to the swarm.
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09/04/2019 update

Swarm Season is over for the year. 
A New Swarm Beekeepers list will be posted in Feb 2020.


​ TRAPOUT or CUTOUT   all areas (established colony removal)


For the removal of established Bee Hives in walls, trees or other locations:
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​​​​​​​​​Steve B                       916 320-1588                                                                                                                                                       Trees, Buildings
Diana Thomas            707-315-2387                       Available weekdays after 3:30pm and all day weekends.                                      Trees
Sonke Mastrup           916-799-0398                       Anytime                                                                                                                  Trees 
​​Louis                          916 698-6800                      After 5 on Weekday, all day Friday -Sunday. Best to Text for a rapid response.    Trees, Buildings
Dan Seoane                408-375-0031                      Anytime                                                                                                                  Trees, Buildings​
Daniel Weston           916 426-6445                       Will respond ASAP   email bees@BlueGreenHorizons.net for information          Trees, Buildings, High, Other Bees, Traffic Accidents
​Ginger Shepherd        209 298-2081                                                                                                                                                       Trees, Buildings, Traffic Accidents
Greg S.                       916 225-0828                        All                                                                                                                          Trees, Buildings, High, Traffic Accidents
​Jeff Goding                916 502-7556                        Available all day                                                                                                     Buildings, High, Other Bees, Traffic Accidents
Doug Peccianti          916 484-1253       ​                                                                                                                                               Trees, Buildings, High, Traffic Accidents
​​Sue Sanders               209 401-5607                                                                                                                                                        Trees, Buildings
Kevin Senser             916 498-4100                         Anytime                                                                                                                 Trees, Buildings, High
​Bar                              916 961 5049                        Anytime 24hrs a day                                                                                              Trees, Buildings, High, Other Bees, Traffic Accidents​
Blake Dacy                 916 849-3528                        24 hours a day                                                                                                        Trees, Buildings, High, Other Bees, Traffic Accidents
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​09-08-2019 - rotation
​Help Support SABA's Bee Rescue List: 
​All donations are Tax Deductible.
Support the SABA Swarm List:

Donate!


OTHER RESOURCES for Swarm Capture Referrals:

Sacramento County
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Sacramento Beekeeping Supplies
2110 X Street, Sacramento CA 95818
916 451-2337 - Closed Sun. & Mon.

Counties in the Foothills:

El Dorado Beekeepers
https://eldoradobeekeepers.org/
Swarm Removal Link
https://eldoradobeekeepers.org/swarm-removal/


Nevada County Beekeepers Association
Lynn Williams:  530-675-2924
iamlynn@hughes.net
Karla Hanson:  530-265-3756
queenbeez@att.net
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Beekeepers of Napa County
Swarm list

Eastern Bay Area

Mt Diablo Beekeepers Association
Swarm list

Elsewhere
CA State Beekeepers Association
 Link to affiliated clubs