Get Free Honey Bee Removal without Breaking the Bank

Honey bees are amazing creatures that play a vital role in pollinating many of the fruits vegetables, and nuts we love. But when a colony sets up residence in an inconvenient spot like the walls of your home, their presence quickly turns from helpful to hazardous.

Getting bees extracted humanely doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg Many beekeepers offer free or low-cost swarm removal services Read on to learn why bee removal runs the cost gamut and tips for getting bees evicted affordably.

Why Bee Removal Costs Vary

Several factors influence the fees beekeepers charge for removals:

Experience Level

Like most services, you’ll pay more for an experienced pro than a hobbyist doing odd jobs. Seasoned beekeepers have invested in proper safety gear and equipment. They’ve also perfected techniques to keep colonies intact during extraction. Avoid cut-rate removals by amateurs who might botch the job and endanger you, your home, and the bees.

Colony Size

Larger bee colonies take longer to extract safely. Most beekeepers base their fees on the estimated size of the colony and number of hive boxes (called supers) required to house the bees after removal.

Location

Where the bees set up their hive also affects the removal cost. Bees nesting out in the open are easier to reach than those inside walls, chimneys, and other confined spaces. Difficult access translates to more labor and greater liability for the beekeeper.

Travel Distance

Like service calls for plumbers and electricians, you’ll pay a premium for beekeepers traveling long distances to your location. So when requesting quotes, look for providers located near you.

Hive Salvageability

Beekeepers prefer to move bees into reusable hive boxes. But sometimes poor comb construction or pest issues make salvaging the colony impossible. In these cases, the bees must be euthanized. Since most beekeepers hate exterminating healthy hives, they may charge more when salvage isn’t feasible.

Ways to Get Free or Low-Cost Bee Removal

Now that you know why bee removal costs vary, here are tips for getting the bees gone without getting stung by expensive fees:

Contact Local Beekeeping Associations

Most areas have beekeeping clubs whose members are happy to collect swarms. Start your search for free bee removal with a call, email, or visit to your local association’s website. For example, the [Your State] Beekeepers Association maintains a swarm removal list.

Post on Neighborhood Forums

Posting about your bee problem on Nextdoor, Facebook community groups, and Craigslist often yields contacts for free removal services. Neighbors may know beekeepers willing to help.

Agree to Relinquish the Colony

Typically, beekeepers charge when they plan to house the bees in their own apiaries after removal. Say upfront that the beekeeper can keep the colony. This incentive may convince them to waive their fee.

Offer Barter

If you have no luck finding free swarm removal, consider trading goods or services to reduce the beekeeper’s fee. Maybe you can mow their lawn for the summer or let them harvest fruit from your orchard. A bit of creativity can save you cash.

Provide Helper

Does the beekeeper estimate a big job requiring an assistant? Offer to be their helper for the day. Don’t attempt bee wrangling yourself, but you can hold ladders, hand tools, and run errands to be useful. Such sweat equity may help you earn a discount.

Time Removal Strategically

March to June is peak swarm season when beekeepers get inundated with removal calls. During this busy period, they may not have time or need to add more colonies to their apiaries. Aim to schedule the work for late summer or fall when keepers need more bees for overwintering hives. Less demand could mean better pricing leverage for you.

Ask for Referrals to Newbies

Once an experienced keeper extracts your bees, ask if they know any beginners looking to acquire colonies on the cheap. New beekeepers often perform removals for free to get practice and build up their apiary numbers.

Offer Publicity

Local beekeepers running side businesses may waive fees in exchange for marketing exposure. For example, offer to promote their beekeeping services on your social media accounts, or let them erect a temporary sign in your yard advertising their work.

When to Pay Full Price for Bee Removal

Despite your best efforts, sometimes it makes sense to pay the going rate for bee extraction:

• You need urgent removal due to allergies or pets at risk of being stung.

• Bees are located in sensitive areas like wall voids, requiring specialized tools and know-how to extract without home damage.

• You value a beekeeper’s experience in safely rehoming colonies.

• You want to hire a licensed and insured pro rather than an amateur beekeeper.

• No one is willing to remove the bees for free.

View paying full price as an investment in safely getting bees permanently gone from where they’re not wanted. A few hundred dollars today can prevent much costlier hive regrowth and structural repairs down the road.

Call the Bee Squad for Affordable, Ethical Removal

While honey bees play an important pollination role, that doesn’t give them free rein to occupy our homes. But neither should their removal come at a steep cost or require extermination. Follow the tips in this article to secure gentle, affordable bee extraction by a local keeper.

For fast, ethical honey bee removal without sky-high fees, call [Your Business Name] at [Phone Number]. Our team leverages decades of beekeeping experience to remove swarms while preserving colonies for rehoming. Contact us today for your free estimate!