WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A BEE SWARM
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- Stay calm—honey bee swarms are typically not dangerous unless you’re allergic to bee venom. Observe from a safe distance and enjoy this natural spectacle.
- Wait for the swarm to settle—flying bees usually cluster on a branch, surface, or the ground within minutes.
- Do not spray the swarm with water, pesticides, or anything else—swarming bees are not interested in you.
- Confirm they’re honey bees—not wasps or yellow jackets—before contacting a beekeeper. Check the pictures below if unsure. (Ground-nesting bees or those in grey paper nests under eaves are not honey bees.)
- Gather key details for the beekeeper:
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- Location: Inside or outside?
- Size: Compare to a basketball, softball, etc.
- Height: How high off the ground? Reachable by hand, or higher/lower?
- Duration: How long has the swarm been there?
- Status: Flying or settled?
- Photo/Video: Text a photo to the beekeeper with the details.
GENERAL SWARM INFO & CONTACTS
For questions about bees, swarms, cutouts, wasps, or nests, contact:
Eric Christian – 707-499-6739
ABOUT SWARM-REMOVAL BEEKEEPERS
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- Volunteers on the list below collect and remove swarms as a public service.
- This list, provided by the Humboldt County Beekeepers Association, is not an endorsement or representation of any individual.
- Before hiring, discuss expectations, intentions, and any fees with the beekeeper.
FINDING A BEEKEEPER
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- From the list below, select the town/city nearest the swarm in the “Swarm Location” dropdown.
- A list of local beekeepers will appear.
- Call a beekeeper. If unavailable, try the next one on the list.
Enter swarm location from the "Swarm Location" drop down menu
Name Phone Cut-Outs Wasp Removal
Eric Christian 707-499-6739 Yes Yes A, E, NH Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Fieldbrook
Darrell Wingrove 907-351-7500 Yes No A, E, NH Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Cutten, Elk River, Freshwater, McKinleyville, Trinidad, Westhaven, Orick, Fieldbrook
Laney Siegrist 808-464-3999 Yes No A, E, NH, K Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Cutten, Elk River, Freshwater, McKinleyville, Trinidad, Westhaven, Orick, Fieldbrook, Kneeland, Maple Creek
Chris House 707-496-3524 No No A, E, NH Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Cutten, Elk River, Freshwater, McKinleyville, Trinidad, Westhaven, Orick, Fieldbrook
John Winzler 707-498-2558 No No E Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River
Bruno Muzzi 209-627-5088 No No E Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River
Polly Kinsinger 707-498-3849 No No E, F, SH Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Ferndale, Loleta, Shively, Southern Humboldt, Garberville, Redway, Benbow, Alderpoint, Briceland, Whitethorn, Shelter Cove, Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, Redcrest
Dennis Kalson 707-601-8310 No No A Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel
Lorlys Dean 510-407-3969 Yes No A, E Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River
Kirk Younker 707-499-6509 Yes No A, E, F Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Ferndale, Loleta, Shively
Danielle Hurley 707-267-0091 Yes No A, NH Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Fieldbrook
Hank Harrison 707-834-4816 Yes No A, E, NH Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Fieldbrook
Melissa Chilton 707-617-8238 No No F Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Ferndale, Loleta, Shively
David Jackson 707-845-6537 No No F Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Ferndale, Loleta, Shively
Julia Graham-Whitt 707-616-6954 No No A, E, F, NH Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Ferndale, Loleta, Shively, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Fieldbrook
Debbie Cendejas 707-599-2697 No No A, E, NH Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Fieldbrook
Samantha Goerlitz 510-660-1697 No No A, E, F, K Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Ferndale, Loleta, Shively, Kneeland, Maple Creek
Alex Abare 530-270-9970 Yes Yes A, NH Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Fieldbrook
Missy Bee 530-270-9970 Yes Yes A, E, F, SH, NH, WC, K, C Humboldt County, Arcata, Blue Lake, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Korbel, Rio Dell, Scotia, Ferndale, Loleta, Southern Humboldt, Garberville, Redway, Benbow, Alderpoint, Briceland, Whitethorn, Shelter Cove, Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, Redcrest, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Kneeland, Willow Creek, Hoopa, Orleans
Valerie Elder 707-496-8073 Yes No A, E, F, K Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Ferndale, Loleta, Shively, Kneeland, Maple Creek
Joey Cueller 707-616-1598 No No A, E, NH, K Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Fieldbrook, Kneeland, Maple Creek
Justin Reeve 707-502-9611 No Yes A, E Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River
Cara Knostman 707-223-3129 Yes No F Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Ferndale, Loleta, Shively
Rebekah Kakuk 707-954-9992 No Yes NH North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Fieldbrook
Emma Robles 530-646-5475 Yes No A, E, WC Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Willow Creek, Hoopa, Orleans
Bob Zigler 707-768-5296 No No F Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta
Tina Ball 707-496-8606 No No C Arcata Area
Marco Freitas 707-442-7402 No No A, E Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Cutten, Elk River, Freshwater
Rachael Riggs 707-845-8842 Yes No E, SH Eureka, Cutten, Elk River, Freshwater, Southern Humboldt, Garberville, Redway, Benbow, Alderpoint, Briceland, Whitethorn, Shelter Cove, Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, Redcrest, Petrolia
Julie Costello 707-496-7873 Yes No A, NH Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Fieldbrook
Jonathan Lockwood 530-417-2682 Yes Yes C All
Kate Lockwood 775-397-0926 Yes No A, E, F, NH Arcata, Eureka, Fortuna, North Humboldt
Matthew Socha 916-802-8284 Yes No F Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Ferndale, Loleta, Shively
| Name | Phone | Cut-Outs | Wasp Removal | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Christian | 707-499-6739 | Yes | Yes | A, E, NH | Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Fieldbrook |
| Darrell Wingrove | 907-351-7500 | Yes | No | A, E, NH | Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Cutten, Elk River, Freshwater, McKinleyville, Trinidad, Westhaven, Orick, Fieldbrook |
| Laney Siegrist | 808-464-3999 | Yes | No | A, E, NH, K | Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Cutten, Elk River, Freshwater, McKinleyville, Trinidad, Westhaven, Orick, Fieldbrook, Kneeland, Maple Creek |
| Chris House | 707-496-3524 | No | No | A, E, NH | Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Cutten, Elk River, Freshwater, McKinleyville, Trinidad, Westhaven, Orick, Fieldbrook |
| John Winzler | 707-498-2558 | No | No | E | Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River |
| Bruno Muzzi | 209-627-5088 | No | No | E | Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River |
| Polly Kinsinger | 707-498-3849 | No | No | E, F, SH | Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Ferndale, Loleta, Shively, Southern Humboldt, Garberville, Redway, Benbow, Alderpoint, Briceland, Whitethorn, Shelter Cove, Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, Redcrest |
| Dennis Kalson | 707-601-8310 | No | No | A | Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel |
| Lorlys Dean | 510-407-3969 | Yes | No | A, E | Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River |
| Kirk Younker | 707-499-6509 | Yes | No | A, E, F | Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Ferndale, Loleta, Shively |
| Danielle Hurley | 707-267-0091 | Yes | No | A, NH | Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Fieldbrook |
| Hank Harrison | 707-834-4816 | Yes | No | A, E, NH | Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Fieldbrook |
| Melissa Chilton | 707-617-8238 | No | No | F | Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Ferndale, Loleta, Shively |
| David Jackson | 707-845-6537 | No | No | F | Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Ferndale, Loleta, Shively |
| Julia Graham-Whitt | 707-616-6954 | No | No | A, E, F, NH | Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Ferndale, Loleta, Shively, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Fieldbrook |
| Debbie Cendejas | 707-599-2697 | No | No | A, E, NH | Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Fieldbrook |
| Samantha Goerlitz | 510-660-1697 | No | No | A, E, F, K | Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Ferndale, Loleta, Shively, Kneeland, Maple Creek |
| Alex Abare | 530-270-9970 | Yes | Yes | A, NH | Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Fieldbrook |
| Missy Bee | 530-270-9970 | Yes | Yes | A, E, F, SH, NH, WC, K, C | Humboldt County, Arcata, Blue Lake, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Korbel, Rio Dell, Scotia, Ferndale, Loleta, Southern Humboldt, Garberville, Redway, Benbow, Alderpoint, Briceland, Whitethorn, Shelter Cove, Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, Redcrest, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Kneeland, Willow Creek, Hoopa, Orleans |
| Valerie Elder | 707-496-8073 | Yes | No | A, E, F, K | Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Ferndale, Loleta, Shively, Kneeland, Maple Creek |
| Joey Cueller | 707-616-1598 | No | No | A, E, NH, K | Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Fieldbrook, Kneeland, Maple Creek |
| Justin Reeve | 707-502-9611 | No | Yes | A, E | Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River |
| Cara Knostman | 707-223-3129 | Yes | No | F | Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Ferndale, Loleta, Shively |
| Rebekah Kakuk | 707-954-9992 | No | Yes | NH | North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Fieldbrook |
| Emma Robles | 530-646-5475 | Yes | No | A, E, WC | Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Willow Creek, Hoopa, Orleans |
| Bob Zigler | 707-768-5296 | No | No | F | Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta |
| Tina Ball | 707-496-8606 | No | No | C | Arcata Area |
| Marco Freitas | 707-442-7402 | No | No | A, E | Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Cutten, Elk River, Freshwater |
| Rachael Riggs | 707-845-8842 | Yes | No | E, SH | Eureka, Cutten, Elk River, Freshwater, Southern Humboldt, Garberville, Redway, Benbow, Alderpoint, Briceland, Whitethorn, Shelter Cove, Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, Redcrest, Petrolia |
| Julie Costello | 707-496-7873 | Yes | No | A, NH | Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Fieldbrook |
| Jonathan Lockwood | 530-417-2682 | Yes | Yes | C | All |
| Kate Lockwood | 775-397-0926 | Yes | No | A, E, F, NH | Arcata, Eureka, Fortuna, North Humboldt |
| Matthew Socha | 916-802-8284 | Yes | No | F | Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Ferndale, Loleta, Shively |
CUT-OUTS: KEY INFO
Removing honey bee colonies from walls, chimneys, or attics (“cut-outs”) is more complex than swarm collection. Discuss expectations, intentions, and the beekeeper’s capabilities with them beforehand.
BEEKEEPERS: SWARM COLLECTION TIPS
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- Discuss intentions with the property owner and consider a signed agreement, especially for cut-outs.
- Be courteous, safe, and respectful: avoid property damage or injury to yourself or others.
- As an independent agent (not representing Humboldt County Beekeepers Association), aim to:
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- Collect the swarm/colony safely.
- Act as a positive ambassador for beekeeping.
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- On-site: Watch for pets/livestock, close gates, ask before cutting plants, explain swarming to owners/bystanders to ease fears, and clean up after.
IS IT A HONEY BEE OR SOMETHING ELSE?
WASPS, HORNETS, & YELLOW JACKETS
Common in Humboldt County, these insects—often mistaken for bees—sting and live in ground nests, cavities, or large grey paper nests. They benefit gardens by eating harmful pests. Unlike honey bees, their colonies don’t survive winter; only a queen hibernates to restart in spring. If they’re not a nuisance, consider leaving them alone.
REMOVAL
If they’re problematic, some beekeepers can exterminate or relocate nests (check the swarm list above). Fees may apply.