Bee Bumbler Bee RemovalRandy Fair – The Bee Bumbler

Clear Lake Apiary, Mansfield, La.

Louisiana Wildflower Honey, Bee Removal and Pollinating Services

1-318-LUV-BUZZ Cell

588-2899

1-318-872-2682 Home

Bee Removals – Is It Worth It?Bee Relocation versus Bee Removal – What is the difference?

Bee Relocation – This is the removal of a feral colony along with as much salvageable brood comb and honey stores . The brood comb is fixed into an empty frame and placed in the hive body along with the bees that are removed. Some honey stores may also be saved but this comb is usually too heavy to stay in the frames long enough for the bees to cement it in place. This is best done early in the spring before the honey flow begins. With a relocation you are trying to remove and relocate as much of the existing hive as possible. (What else are you relocating? Inferior bee genetics, diseases, parasites, unwanted pests)

Bee Removal – This is the removal of a feral colony or swarm from a structure or other location and relocating the bees to an empty hive body complete with frames of foundation, drawn comb, combs of brood and/or a combination of all three. This is usually done after the existing colony has put up Spring honey stores or the location is such that trying to save the existing comb and brood is not possible. Comb containing honey can be pressed to remove the honey and the honey fed back to THAT hive. With a bee removal project, the main purpose is to remove the bees from the location as fast and efficient as possible. If the colony is able to be saved, so much the better.

Guidelines / Issues • How much is your time worth? Know that most jobs take

three hours not including travel time.

• How far are you willing to travel?

• Set your price and let the homeowner know up front.

• What is involved with the removal process and who is responsible to replace the torn out materials?

• Liabilities? What about structural damage, bystanders getting stung, you get hurt? A written agreement?

• Extra hive bodies, frames, colony location?

• Necessary equipment and tools on hand and expenses?

• Got it all??? Then go get your FREE BEES!!!!!!!!!

• Sometimes it is better to JUST SAY “NO”.

Building Bee Removal – Free Bees

• Remove bees from storage shed.

• Save bees and brood for transfer to new bee hive body.

• Remove comb and wax from wall.

• Recycle wax and honey.

Building Bee Removal • Bees entering

storage shed at right top of door.

• Homeowner wants bees removed.

• Decided to remove bees from wall from inside of the shed.

Building Bee Removal • Remove molding

around door facing and window.

• Remove paneling to expose bees and comb.

• Place brood in empty frames and transfer to box.

• Vacuum bees and transfer to deep brood chamber later.

Building Bee Removal • Tools required.

– Bee vac set up and ready.

– Pry bar and hammer for paneling removal.

– Empty frames for brood, rubber bands.

– Smoker and protective equipment.

Building Bee Removal

• Panel removed.

• Notice brood and honey stores.

• Comb to be removed and placed in empty frames.

Building Bee Removal

• Panel removed.

• Notice brood and honey stores remaining in wall.

• Comb to be removed and placed in empty frames.

Building Bee Removal

• Removing comb from removed panel.

• Notice brood and honey stores.

• Placing comb with brood into empty frames.

Building Bee Removal

• Removing comb from wall.

• Notice brood and honey stores.

• Bees removed with bee vac as comb removed.

• All comb and bees removed from wall

Building Bee Removal

• Bees being transferred from bee-vac box to hive.

• Brood box complete with 3 frames of brood and honey stores, 2 frames of pulled foundation and 4 frames of foundation.

Building Bee Removal

Bees in their new home, will check for queen in a couple of days.

Free Bees ????? • Free bees from Natchitoches.• Two hours round trip travel.• Three hours labor time to

remove bees from wall• Took bees to farm and placed

in hive body.• Bees swarmed the next day

and took the queen and half the hive went with her.

• Captured swarm and re-introduced to colony a couple days later

Building Bee Removal

Inside Garage on Barksdale Highway.

Building Bee Removal

Tools of the trade.

Building Bee Removal

Inside wall removal.

Building Bee Removal

Comb removal and placed in frame.

Building Bee Removal

Frames in brood chamber.

Building Bee Removal

Bee-vac in use.

Building Bee Removal

Clean wall?

Building Bee Removal

Bees moved over.

Building Bee Removal

Finishing up.

Building Bee Removal

Bee-vac bees and brood chamber.

Free Bees ????? • Free bees from Bossier.

• Two hours round trip travel.

• Three hours labor time to remove bees from wall

• Was a second hive in wall two wall studs over.

• Required two additional trips to remove the other hive and clean up area.

• Did not get queen with second hive and lost them. They left.

Free Bees ????? • Free bees from Bossier.• Six hours round trip travel.• Six hours labor time to remove two hives

from wall• Was able to save one hive with viable queen.• Was paid $280.00 for services rendered.• Sold homeowner 6 pints of honey ($24.00).• Three pound package of bees with laying

queen costs $100 or less.• How much is your time worth???????