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You might think that the last thing we’d recommend would be DIY bee removal. And you’d be right. There are too many risks to yourself, others, the bees themselves, and often the property they are found in. That said there not all bee swarms or hive situations are the same and there are times when it isn’t unrealistic to consider DIY bee removal services offered by Clear Lake Bee Removal, so let’s just look at the factors to consider before deciding to go it alone.
What if they're Killer Bees
You might hear knowledgeable sounding people telling you that there are two kinds of bee, the honey bee and the African bee and that the African bee is much more aggressive. That’s based on a little bit of truth but only a little. There is an africanized bee that is a cross between an African bee and the honey bee. Some people like to call it a Killer Bee. It’s actually so similar to a honey bee that only an expert can tell the two apart so firstly don’t trust anyone who pronounces bees to be ‘African’. They crossed African and honey bees to get a strain that is slightly stronger and more resistant but despite the ‘killer’ tag it is no more venomous and while it has a reputation for defending its ground more aggressively the simple truth is that bees only sting when they feel threatened. So a) don’t listen to talk of ‘killer’ bees and panic about the insects and b) treat all and any bees with respect anyway.
Structural Removal
Structural removal is where the bees are inside a structure like a house or garage and there may be a swarm or hive but you can’t tell because the bulk of it is hidden inside a structure, perhaps behind a dry wall or up in the beams. We really don’t recommend attempting structural removal as there is a really high chance of getting it wrong, upsetting the bees and thereby hurting them and yourself, and the cost of repairing structure and mistakes typically adds up to more than the cost of calling in a beekeeper. Besides, if they’re in a structure the chances are they’ve already been there a while and so a little extra wait doesn’t make so much difference.
Non Structural DIY Removal
Non structural means that the bees have formed a clump on a place that’s just a resting spot – usually a tree branch, or a pole, or some other convenient place to take a break while scout bees fly on ahead in the search for a new home. Typically the best thing here is to leave the bees to their business as they will move on in a few hours or a day. Sometimes however that is not an option because the swarm is in a place that is threatening to people and so it must be moved on. Because there is no honeycomb and this is only a stop off the bees will typically be non-territorial about the spot which means it is not so difficult to move them.
Bee Vacuuming
If you’re going to attempt DIY removal then you’ll need full beekeeper’s outfit including veil and protective gloves and a bee vacuum (you can rent them). The vacuum sucks the insects into a bag and you can then take them away either to release them somewhere safe or give them to a beekeeper (or us). There is obviously a risk of getting stung so while it is possible we really recommend calling us and if you are or even think you might be allergic then frankly don’t even think of trying to DIY.