What is the difference between a bee hive and a swarm?

A beehive is an established colony of bees, where as a swarm is about half of an established bee hive’s population flying or clustering up outside of the hive with their queen and looking for a new location to build their hive. Swarms are generally non-aggressive.

What should I do if I see a very large clump of bees hanging somewhere near a populated area?

This is likely a swarm of bees –do not attempt to remove or exterminate! Keep yourself and your surroundings safe by calling a live removal service at your earliest convenience. They will attend to the situation at a small cost and will keep safety at top of mind.

Why should I call for live bee removal rather than just exterminate them?

1) A Stable Agricultural Economy:
By transferring pollen to and from plants, honeybees hold a unique and integral roll in our environment. Adequate pollination is imperative for the successes of crops year after year. Some crops, including blueberries and cherries are 90-percent dependent on honey bee pollination. By choosing live removal rather than extermination, you are doing your part to keep balance of this cycle. A healthy beekeeping industry is invaluable to a stable agricultural economy.

2) Removal Technique:
Exterminators are knowledgeable about pests and chemical applications. Honeybees are a unique colony insect that requires specific techniques in order to properly remove and relocate. In my experience exterminators often leave some or all honeycomb behind which attracts a return hive and if the hive happens to be inside a wall the leftover honey can cause damage and attract pests/rodents.

How long does it take to do a live bee removal?

Depending on the location and size of the hive it typically takes anywhere from 1-4 hours to reveal and clean out the hive. Once the combs have been moved into my box along with the queen bee, we just wait until sundown for the rest of the bees to gather in.

Can I remove the bees myself?

I would never recommend for anyone that doesn't have experience in beekeeping to try and remove a beehive. It is dangerous and without the proper safety equipment, it could have disastrous results.

Why do I keep getting bees?

If you have had a beehive removed from your property and bees have moved back into that same spot, something was left behind or not properly sealed back up. At J R Bees we specialize in preventing return hives by cleaning out the comb and properly sealing up the emptied cavity.

Where do you take your bees?

J R Bees, LLC has a registered apiary on the Bluebird Canyon Ranch out in Vista, CA. We relocate our beehives there as well as a couple other apiary locations throughout the county.

Do you remove bees for free?

We do not perform live bee removals for free, but rather perform a quality service worth paying for! There are many costs involved with re-homing the hives as well as maintaining them throughout the year. Your payment would go toward these costs therefore, you would be having a very real part in helping to save the bees!