Many beekeepers will remove a swarm of bees at no or little charge; some will ask for a donation or a minimum reimbursement to assist with their fuel costs. If the bees are located at a site where more elaborate equipment is needed to reach them, or enclosed in walls or other structures, you can expect a fee.

Honey bees are very sensitive to smell and when they smell smoke they think it's a forest fire, causing them to leave and most likely never come back. Build a smoky fire with cardboard and dead firewood right under the beehive. Don't stick around to watch the bees get smoked out.

If done early enough in the morning, the worker bees will likely not have left the hive for the day and if done later in the day, it is more likely that the worker bees will have returned from their pollination responsibilities. It is important to note that some straggler bees never leave after the hive is removed.

After a bee rescue job, the bees are transferred to our apiaries or donated to a local beekeeper in Los Angeles. These eco-friendly procedures are not only good for the environment, they are also good for you!