Save our bee swarms with one phone call
By Contributor
The West Kootenay Beekeepers have compiled a honeybee “SWARM RESCUE LIST” for our region, and I am the swarm rescue contact person should you come across one this year.
May-July is the time of year when honeybee colonies are most likely to swarm in our region. If you discover a swarm, please contact me and I will get in touch with a local beekeeper closest to the swarm. Based on the information the beekeeper is given, they’ll happily and safely, remove the bees and give them a new home.
Swarms are very harmless. All the honeybees want to do when they swarm is find a new home. They have nothing to defend, and aren’t interested in stinging you. Not to mention they are too full of honey to bother! To get to witness a swarm is actually a really exciting and interesting experience.
When you call to report a swarm please provide the following information to the best of your ability:
1. location of the swarm (specific address is great)
2. a photo of the swarm if possible (we’re often called out to wasp nests!)
3. how high up the swarm is (we need to know what equipment to bring)
As swarms need to be removed in a timely fashion before they fly away, it is best to contact me ASAP on my cell or house phone so I can work fast to organize a swarm rescue.
Thank you from your local beekeeping club, the West Kootenay Beekeepers!
Laena Brown
(c)250-505-0493
(h)250-399-4432
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