Colorado Report Bee Swarm Hotline – Free Honey Bee Swarm Removal!
Give us a call and we will answer right away and send one of our experienced swarm removers immediately.
For the public: If you are a member of the public or the pest control industry wishing to report a swarm, call Northern Colorado Honey Bee Swarm Hotline number: 970-658-4949
Berthoud, Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Longmont, Boulder, Johnstown, Milliken, Windsor, Severence, Fort Morgan, Timnath, Fredrick, Firestone, Estes Park
When you call, please give us as much detail as you can:
- Your name and phone number
- Where is the swarm located? address, back yard, on fence, in a bush or tree?
- How high off the ground are the bees? could you reach them by reaching?
- How long have them been there?
- do you see a ball of bees? looks like a pineapple or pine cone etc.
CLICK TO REPORT SWARM ONLINE
Definition: A swarm of honeybees is group of bees with a queen bee in migration to establish a new colony. Often seen as a 5-inch diameter (or larger) cluster of honey bees attached to – anything! – they generally move on within a few hours to a day, and seldom pose a hazard to anyone. Once a swarm has taken up residence, for example in a building wall or soffit, they are much more difficult and costly to remove. As a public service, please call the swarm hotline immediately when you spot a swarm so the bees can be safely collected by a trained beekeeper and placed in a hive. There is generally no charge for this service. The photo at the right is an exceptionally large swarm attached to a tree.
Honey Bee Rescue from Structures: We are no longer coordinating the removal of honey bee colonies from structures. You can view/search the names of people who have told us they perform this service in our business directory. There is usually a charge for removal of an established colony of bees – bees in a structure or other enclosed location. NCBA is not liable for any damage or injury as a result of a structural removal. It is up to you to make sure the contractor is capable and insured for their service. View Directory Listings
If you are in need of having a bee hive removed from a structure, please view our beekeeper services directory.
Honey Bee Swarm and Bee Hive Removal Hotline – 970-658-4949
Honey Bee Swarm season is here – the photo at the right is an exceptionally large swarm attached to a tree. If you have a swarm that needs to be collected please call the NCBA Swarm and Hive Removal Hotline – 970-658-4949
If you need to have a colony of honey bees removed from your property, call the hotline and we will send a qualified hive removal person to your area to make an estimate of the cost.
Is it BEES? or WASPS? or YELLOW JACKETS?
The image to the left are wasps. There are usually fewer numbers in a wasp nest, although some nests can become very large. Their bodies are not fuzzy and are usually shiny. Wasps are usually more aggressive than bee’s.
The images to the right are Yellow Jackets. Often misidentified as honeybees, yellow jackets are easily distinguished from honeybees by their sharply-defined yellow and black stripes or markings. Honeybees are fuzzy and the markings are less uniform and distinct. (See below)
The Image to the left is a Honey BEE. They are usually found in larger numbers and are ‘fuzzy’. Most of the time, bees are more docile than wasps. The lower photo to the left is a swarm that has decided to make this their home. A new swarm would not have any comb at first and they usually will stay around for a few hours until the scout bees return notifying the swarm where their new home is.
Help us spread the word!
Share this graphic on your social media page to help inform other of NCBA’s swarm rescue service! It is FREE! just right click to download the image and share. Thank you for helping save the bees!
SWARM CATCHER INFORMATION:
The Honey Bee Swarm Hotline: For many years, the NCBA has sponsored a Swarm Hotline. To be a swarm catcher, please plan to participate in our April Swarm Hotline meeting. In order to participate in the NCBA Swarm Rescue program – having your name on the list of people who will be called for swarm rescue – you MUST be a current NCBA member. You will also need to follow the swarm catcher rules of engagement.
Each year NCBA offers Honey Bee Swarm Hotline Participant Training and a Swarm Season Recap for the prior year. It is scheduled in April. This meeting is mandatory.
If you are interested in being a swarm catcher this year, please complete the form before attending the mandatory swarm meeting, even if you have been on the swarm list in the past year.