What to Do If You Discover a Swarm of Bees

Seeing a swarm of bees can be an alarming experience, but understanding how to respond will help keep both you and the bees safe. Swarming is a natural part of the honey bee lifecycle and usually occurs when a colony is looking for a new home.

1. Stay Calm and Keep Your Distance

Honey bees are generally not aggressive when swarming. At this stage, they are focused on protecting their queen and finding a suitable location to establish a new colony. Avoid disturbing the swarm, making sudden movements, or attempting to remove it yourself.

2. Alert Others Nearby

Please inform people in the area about the presence of the swarm and encourage them to keep a safe distance. This helps prevent accidental disturbance and allows the bees to settle safely.

3. Contact Jarvis Honey for Safe Collection

If the swarm is accessible and located at a height of 7 feet or below, please contact Jarvis Honey for professional swarm collection. We as beekeepers can safely collect and relocate honey bee swarms, helping to protect both the public and the bees.

A swarm can contain thousands of bees, which may appear intimidating, but they are usually simply passing through while searching for a suitable new home. With the correct approach, swarms can often be safely collected and given a new place to thrive.

Jarvis Honey provides professional swarm collection services throughout Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire.

Swarm Collection Availability and Charges

While Jarvis Honey is always happy to assist with the safe collection and relocation of honey bee swarms, every situation is different and some collections can be more complex than others. Factors such as the location, accessibility, height, size of the swarm, and the equipment or time required may mean that a collection charge is necessary. If a charge applies, we will always discuss this with you before carrying out the work.

As professional beekeepers, we experience a very high demand for swarm collections during the swarming season. We will always do our very best to respond and attend where possible; however, due to the number of requests we receive, we cannot guarantee immediate attendance for every call-out.

If you require an urgent response and we are unable to attend, we recommend visiting the British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA) website, where you can find details of other local beekeepers and swarm collectors who may be able to assist.

Thank you for helping us protect honey bees and support responsible beekeeping.