Swarm Removal

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A SWARM ON YOUR PROPERTY / PREMISES

1. Do not panic. A swarm of honey bees is usually not dangerous so, while taking reasonable precautions, such as standing at a safe distance so you are not in the middle of the swarm, enjoy one of the true wonders of nature. After a few minutes a swarm in flight will usually settle on a branch, surface or even the ground and coalesce into a clump or ball.
2. Do not spray the clump / swarm of bees with anything. No water and especially no pesticides. Remember, swarming honey bees aren’t interested in you and they are not dangerous unless you have an allergy to bee venom.
3. Determine that you are dealing with Honey Bees and not wasps or yellow jackets. Beekeepers only remove honey bees. Therefore, before you call the beekeeper, please be sure the bees that you are concerned about are actually honey bees. If you aren’t sure, take a moment to look at the pictures down below. The pictures included below will help you determine what kind of bee you are dealing with.Bees that nest in the ground or in a grey colored paper nest located under the eaves of your home are not honey bees.

• Take a moment to gather some information before calling a beekeeper. Listed below are some things the beekeeper will want to know. The information will help the beekeeper determine what to do to collect your swarm. It is helpful to include a photograph in the text message sent to the beekeeper but not required.
• Where is the swarm located? Is it inside or outside?
• How large is the swarm? Compare it to the size of a basketball, softball, is it bigger or smaller.
• How high off the ground is it located? Can you reach it? Is it within an arm’s length? Is it higher or lower?
• How long has the swarm been there?
• Are the bees flying in the air or have they landed somewhere?
• Do you have a ladder if one would be necessary to collect the swarm or does the beekeeper need to bring one?

GENERAL SWARM INFORMATION?

For general questions about bees and swarms, cutouts, wasps and nests, call:

Eric Christian – Phone = 707-499-6739

ABOUT THE BEEKEEPERS WHO WILL COLLECT AND REMOVE THE SWARM:

The beekeepers on the swarm list below have volunteered to collect and remove swarms. It is important to understand that this list is provided as a public service and is not an endorsement by the Humboldt County Beekeepers Association of any individual on the list. The beekeepers listed below are not agents, nor are they acting as a representative, of the Humboldt County Beekeepers Association. 

IMPORTANT

Prior to engaging in the services of anyone on the list, it is recommended that you discuss your expectations of the beekeeper and the beekeeper should also explain their intentions to you. You should also discuss if there is a fee for their service.

How to use the list to find a beekeeper to service your area.

In the list below, select the town or city in the SWARM LOCATION dropdown menu that is closest to the swarm location.  A list of beekeepers will populate.

Upon choosing a beekeeper who services that location, call them. If they are unavailable or do not respond, simply move to the next beekeeper servicing that location.

Enter swarm location from the "Swarm Location" drop down menu

Name	Phone	Cut-Outs	Wasp Removal	Service Location	Search Function
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
Chris House	707-496-3524	No	No	A, NH	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, McKinleyville, Trinidad, Westhaven, Orick, Field Brook
Jeannine Kaprielian	707-599-0366	No	No	A, E	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Cutten, Elk River, Freshwater
Kirk Younker	707-499-6509	No	No	A, E, NH	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick
Matthew Socha	916-802-8284	Yes	No	F, SH	Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta, Southern Humboldt, Garberville, Redway, Benbow, Alderpoint, Briceland, Whitethorn, Shelter Cove, Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, Redcrest, Petrolia
Tamsen Kelly	707-457-7548	Yes	No	F, SH	Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta, Southern Humboldt, Garberville, Redway, Benbow, Alderpoint, Briceland, Whitethorn, Shelter Cove, Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, Redcrest, Petrolia
Valerie Elder	707-496-8073	No	No	E, F, K	Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta, Kneeland, Maple Creek
John Winzler	707-498-2558	No	No	E	Eureka, Cutten, Elk River, Freshwater
Mark & Jackie Wiedemann	707-825-4930	No	No	A	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel
Heidi Rubalcava	707-954-2771	No	No	E, F	Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta,
Hank Harrison	707-834-4816	No	No	A, E	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Cutten, Elk River, Freshwater
Collyn Carey	561-818-8040	No	No	A, E, NH	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick
Kenneth Finch	925-542-0674	Yes	Yes	E, F, SH	Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta, Southern Humboldt, Garberville, Redway, Benbow, Alderpoint, Briceland, Whitethorn, Shelter Cove, Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, Redcrest, Petrolia
David Terry	707-599-0618	Yes	No	A, E, K	Arcata, Blue Lake, Eureka, Cutten, Elk River, Freshwater, Kneeland, Maple Creek
Julia Graham-Whitt	707-616-6954	Yes	No	A, E, F, NH	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick
Morgan Huber	949-540-5222	Yes	No	A,E, SH	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Cutten, Elk River, Freshwater, Southern Humboldt, Garberville, Redway, Benbow, Alderpoint, Briceland, Whitethorn, Shelter Cove, Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, Redcrest, Petrolia
Rachael Riggs	707-845-8842	Yes	No	E, F, SH	Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta, Southern Humboldt, Garberville, Redway, Benbow, Alderpoint, Briceland, Whitethorn, Shelter Cove, Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, Redcrest, Petrolia
Trever Gentry	707-515-5523	Yes	Yes	A, E, NH, K	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Kneeland, Maple Creek
Ned Peck	530-902-6173	Yes	No	A, NH	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick
Ron Biasca	707-499-7171	No	No	A, E	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Cutten, Elk River, Freshwater
Celeste Giallanzo	707-223-4181	No	No	SH	Southern Humboldt, Garberville, Redway, Benbow, Alderpoint, Briceland, Whitethorn, Shelter Cove, Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, Redcrest, Petrolia
Christine Griffin	707-825-5085	Yes	No	A, E, NH	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick
Shannon Lamb	562-708-7215	Yes	No	E, F	Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta,
Joey Cuellar	707-616-1598	No	No	A, E, F, NH, K	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Kneeland, Maple Creek
Cara Knostman	707-223-3129	No	No	F	Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta,
Kevin Main	805-471-7831	No	No	A, E	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Cutten, Elk River, Freshwater
Cheryl Furman	707-444-8804	No	No	K	Kneeland, Maple Creek
Matt Ziesak	707-499-9625	No	No	E, F	Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta,
Kathleen Maguire Sonn	707-599-7005	No	No	WC	Willow Creek, Hoopa, Orleans
Karen Myers	707-616-2151	No	No	A, E, F, NH	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick
Wendy Hancock	239-776-6846	No	No	SH	Southern Humboldt, Garberville, Redway, Benbow, Alderpoint, Briceland, Whitethorn, Shelter Cove, Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, Redcrest, Petrolia
Chuck Card	707-777-3277	Yes	No	F, SH	Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta, Southern Humboldt, Garberville, Redway, Benbow, Alderpoint, Briceland, Whitethorn, Shelter Cove, Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, Redcrest, Petrolia
Dawna Blair	707-601-7733	No	No	SH	Southern Humboldt, Garberville, Redway, Benbow, Alderpoint, Briceland, Whitethorn, Shelter Cove, Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, Redcrest, Petrolia
Alicia Sidebottom	707-498-8935	Yes	No	F, SH	Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta, Southern Humboldt, Garberville, Redway, Benbow, Alderpoint, Briceland, Whitethorn, Shelter Cove, Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, Redcrest, Petrolia
Melissa Chilton	707-617-8238	No	No	F	Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta,
Johnathon Macias	805-200-9270	Yes	Yes	SH	Southern Humboldt, Garberville, Redway, Benbow, Alderpoint, Briceland, Whitethorn, Shelter Cove, Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, Redcrest, Petrolia
Missy Bee Lee	707-499-9749	No	No	A, NH	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick
Oscar Lopez	702-250-6262	Yes	No	A	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel
Amy Ziegler	707-298-1588	No	No	A	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel
Bruce Wagner	707-845-1066	No	No	F	Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta,
Misty Christensen	707-223-6125	No	No	SH	Southern Humboldt, Garberville, Redway, Benbow, Alderpoint, Briceland, Whitethorn, Shelter Cove, Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, Redcrest, Petrolia
David Cranmer	707-267-5727	No	No	A, E, K	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Cutten, Elk River, Freshwater, Kneeland, Maple Creek
Bob Zigler	707-601-6808	No	No	F	Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta,
Thomas Tellez	707-834-0640	No	No	A	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel
John Huffman	530-276-3582	Yes	Yes	E, F	Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta,
Jason Stennett	707-502-7780	Yes	No	A, E, F, NH, K	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Kneeland, Maple Creek
Lond Park	208-921-6909	Yes	No	A, E, F, SH, NH	Arcata, Blue Lake, Korbel, Eureka, Freshwater, Cutten, Elk River, Fortuna, Hydesville, Rio Dell, Scotia, Shively, Ferndale, Loleta, North Humboldt, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad, Orick, Southern Humboldt, Garberville, Redway, Benbow, Alderpoint, Briceland, Whitethorn, Shelter Cove, Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, Redcrest, Petrolia

**AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT CUT-OUTS – PLEASE READ:

Honey bee colonies located inside walls, chimneys, attics, etc. require more skill, time and effort to remove than a typical swarm.  Removing Bees from locations and structures such as those mentioned above are termed “Cut-Outs”. Once again, you must thoroughly express your expectations to the beekeeper as well as understand the beekeeper’s intentions and expectations including their capabilities to undertake a cut-out procedure.

A Reminder to Beekeepers Who Will be Collecting Swarms:

It is highly recommended that you have a conversation with the property owner so that both you and the property owner understand each other’s intentions.  It is also recommended that you have a signed agreement with the property owner before undertaking the swarm removal, especially if a cut-out procedure is anticipated

When collecting a swarm on someone else’s property, please be courteous, respectful of the property owner and their property. Above all else, be safe and careful not to damage property or injure yourself or bystanders.

Although you are functioning as an independent agent and not a representative or agent of the Humboldt County Beekeepers Association we hope you have two goals in mind. One is to collect the swarm. Your other goal, perhaps the more important of the two, should be to become a good ambassador for beekeeping and other beekeepers.

When entering a property be careful and courteous and mindful of pets, other animals and livestock. Close all gates. Ask before cutting branches, trees or flowers. Take a moment to explain bees, swarms, swarming and swarm collecting to the property owner and by-standers. Allay their fears if necessary, about bees and swarms. Be as careful as you can and clean up after you are finished collecting the swarm.

 

IS IT A HONEY BEE OR SOMETHING ELSE?

WASPS, HORNETS, and YELLOW JACKETS:

Wasps, Hornets and Yellow Jackets are familiar insects in Humboldt County. Often times when you have been stung by a “bee”, it is a sting from one of these.  Some of them live in the ground while others live in cavities or in large grey paper nests.  Believe it or not, in general, these insects are beneficial. They prey on, and eat, other insects that are harmful to our gardens. They live in colonies similar to our Honey Bees; however, they do not over winter in colonies like our honey bees.  During the fall season, almost all of these insects die except for a single queen that will over winter and start her new colony in the spring. Therefore, if these bees are not being a nuisance problem it is often best to leave them alone.

If they are a nuisance, or you have good reasons to remove them, some beekeepers will help you eradicate their nests. Sometimes they can be moved elsewhere but usually the nest is exterminated. Check the swarm list above to see which beekeepers may be willing to help with wasps, hornets and yellow jackets. Please note that there may be a fee associated with removal.