Swarm Removal
Swarm Removal
Honey Bee Rescue provides fast and free honey bee swarm capture and relocation throughout Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and Shreveport. Swarming is a natural part of the honey bee life cycle — when a colony outgrows its hive, roughly half the bees leave with the old queen to find a new home. The result is a cluster of thousands of bees hanging from a tree branch, fence post, car mirror, or just about anywhere they can gather while scout bees search for permanent shelter.
Swarming bees are generally docile because they have no hive or honey to defend. They are focused entirely on protecting their queen and finding a new location. That said, a swarm of ten thousand bees clinging to your porch railing is still an unsettling sight, and we understand the urgency. Our beekeepers respond quickly — often the same day — to safely capture and relocate the swarm before it moves into your walls, attic, or other structure where removal becomes significantly more involved and expensive.
You are important to us and we would rather talk to you than have you guess. We take great pride in our ability to answer the phones and take time with our customers. We provide 100% free swarm removal quotes on the phone with step-by-step explanation of the process. Swarm removals are typically fast, often completed within an hour, and in many cases provided at no charge. Our goal is to get the bees safely relocated to one of our managed apiaries before they establish a permanent colony in an unwanted location.
All of our swarm removals are performed by professional beekeepers who prioritize the safety of your family and the bees. We are fully insured with TDA License #083303, regulated by the Texas Department of Agriculture. Do not attempt to remove a swarm yourself — even docile swarms can become defensive if disturbed improperly. Call Honey Bee Rescue and let our certified beekeepers handle it safely.
Swarming bees are generally docile because they have no hive or honey to defend. They are focused entirely on protecting their queen and finding a new location. That said, a swarm of ten thousand bees clinging to your porch railing is still an unsettling sight, and we understand the urgency. Our beekeepers respond quickly — often the same day — to safely capture and relocate the swarm before it moves into your walls, attic, or other structure where removal becomes significantly more involved and expensive.
You are important to us and we would rather talk to you than have you guess. We take great pride in our ability to answer the phones and take time with our customers. We provide 100% free swarm removal quotes on the phone with step-by-step explanation of the process. Swarm removals are typically fast, often completed within an hour, and in many cases provided at no charge. Our goal is to get the bees safely relocated to one of our managed apiaries before they establish a permanent colony in an unwanted location.
All of our swarm removals are performed by professional beekeepers who prioritize the safety of your family and the bees. We are fully insured with TDA License #083303, regulated by the Texas Department of Agriculture. Do not attempt to remove a swarm yourself — even docile swarms can become defensive if disturbed improperly. Call Honey Bee Rescue and let our certified beekeepers handle it safely.
Our Process
Our swarm removal process is designed for speed and safety:
1. Assess the Swarm — Our beekeeper evaluates the swarm's location, size, and accessibility. We determine whether the bees are a true swarm (temporary cluster) or an established colony that has already begun building comb.
2. Locate the Queen — The queen is the key to a successful swarm capture. Once she is secured in the transport box, the remaining bees will follow her naturally. Our beekeepers are trained to identify and safely handle the queen.
3. Capture the Swarm — Using specialized tools including bee brushes, collection boxes, and modified bee vacuums, we gently collect the swarm. For swarms on branches, we often shake them directly into the transport box. For swarms on flat surfaces, we use a combination of brushing and smoking techniques.
4. Verify Complete Collection — We wait to ensure stragglers follow the queen's pheromone into the collection box. This step is critical — leaving the queen behind means the swarm will reform.
5. Transport to Apiary — The captured swarm is carefully transported to one of our managed apiaries across Texas. During transport, the bees are kept cool and ventilated.
6. Introduce to Managed Hive — At the apiary, the swarm is introduced to a prepared hive body with drawn comb and food resources. The colony is monitored over the following weeks to ensure the queen is laying and the colony is healthy.
7. Follow-Up Inspection — We inspect the new colony for parasites, disease, and proper queen activity. Healthy colonies are integrated into our apiary management program where they contribute to pollination and honey production.
1. Assess the Swarm — Our beekeeper evaluates the swarm's location, size, and accessibility. We determine whether the bees are a true swarm (temporary cluster) or an established colony that has already begun building comb.
2. Locate the Queen — The queen is the key to a successful swarm capture. Once she is secured in the transport box, the remaining bees will follow her naturally. Our beekeepers are trained to identify and safely handle the queen.
3. Capture the Swarm — Using specialized tools including bee brushes, collection boxes, and modified bee vacuums, we gently collect the swarm. For swarms on branches, we often shake them directly into the transport box. For swarms on flat surfaces, we use a combination of brushing and smoking techniques.
4. Verify Complete Collection — We wait to ensure stragglers follow the queen's pheromone into the collection box. This step is critical — leaving the queen behind means the swarm will reform.
5. Transport to Apiary — The captured swarm is carefully transported to one of our managed apiaries across Texas. During transport, the bees are kept cool and ventilated.
6. Introduce to Managed Hive — At the apiary, the swarm is introduced to a prepared hive body with drawn comb and food resources. The colony is monitored over the following weeks to ensure the queen is laying and the colony is healthy.
7. Follow-Up Inspection — We inspect the new colony for parasites, disease, and proper queen activity. Healthy colonies are integrated into our apiary management program where they contribute to pollination and honey production.
Certifications & Licenses
TDA License #083303
Fully Insured
Certified Beekeeper
Regulated by Texas Department of Agriculture
Services Under Swarm Removal
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