Swarms -- what to tell your friends

[Jim Stovall]

I realize this could be filed under "preaching to the choir" category, but it's a good time of year to remind ourselves to remind our friends and neighbors of the following:

Subject: Swarms

• If you see a swarm, don't panic. A swarm is generally a good thing.

• DO NOT use insecticide to try to kill a swarm. Bees are way to valuable for that kind of treatment.

• Swarms are fairly benign and unlikely to sting.

• Call your local police or fire department and ask for their list of beekeepers. Or call a beekeeping friend. Any beekeeper will love you for it.

• If you simply do nothing, the swarm is likely to go away.

[kathyp]

good reminder 

got a call from a lady a few weeks ago.  every year a swam lands in a tree on her property.  every year she keeps her son in the house for 3 days while she and her husband take a hose to the swarm to "make it leave".  she doesn't seem to realize that in 3 days it would probably leave on it's own, and that they are far more likely to be stung when they hose the thing,  than if they just left it alone.

[Shizzell]

Hey, there is the "need bees removed?" arrow in the right top corner of the forum's page. You can tell them to come here =)

I haven't had anyone use that yet for contacting me for swarms, hopefully this year though someone will give me a call =D

Jake

[qa33010]

    Most of my calls come from the folks referred to me by the County Extension Service.  They get a list of registered Beeks every year from our states' Apiary Section.  I guess I can give my name and number to the local police and county sherriff offices also.

[Scadsobees]

Don't forget the exterminator!!  Most of the time they will get called and then go in and spray them.  Talk to some of the small operators and they'll call when they get swarm calls.  most of my calls over the last couple of years has been from the one that i made aquaintance with.

the big operators don't really care much.

[BMAC]

Big operators care also.  I called Terminex and they were happy I called.

[Jim Stovall]

Great suggestions, everyone. Thanks,

Jim

[KONASDAD]

I have had the most luck w/ the state Bee club website, police stations and exterminating companies. I had to wait until my third summer to get my first call. I think feral hives are finally making a comeback in my neck of woods and there has been extensive publicity about bees in NJ by the ag dept. The public is now calling NJBA which is great which is the biggest reason I am now getting calls. People also think I should pay them to take the bees.

[Shizzell]

Thats rediculous that people expect you to pay for the bees.
I mean, they called you out there, because they don't want them there.

YOUR doing a favor for THEM. That doesn't make sense to me.

But then again, most people don't make sense to me =)

Jake