Over the next week or so I'm going to be calling a bunch of non-emergency police/fire stations to leave my name and number for honeybee swarm and hive removal. Has anyone had any experience talking with state officials and offering your services to them?
I am already on call with a pest service, and last year they got a swarm call from a police chief who then got my number...and I successfully removed a small swarm for them. I just figured I'd broaden my horizons and I was curious if anyone has done the same thing.
I don't plan on charging for the swarm removals; cause I'm just happy to get the free bees - all my hives last year came from swarm calls.I haven't really done a hive removal but I'm pretty confidant that I can handle it when it does come up...and that I'll probobly have to charge something for depending on how big the job is. (we'll see).
Good luck this year everyone! Hope all is well.
Go for it. I did this a few years back and got covered up with calls.
I had to with draw my name and # when I had surgery, lost a kidney.
Some pointers.
#1 Explain just how far you will go. As in--
How far up a tree can you manage getting a swarm.
#2 Explain what has to be done if and when an "established" colony is in a wall.
Some people want the bees gone but don't want the "expense" of putting the wall back.
Or this can happen with a tree some one doesn't want cut down.
In this case there isn't much we, as beekeepers can do. They are going to get rid of the bees at the lowest cost re guard less. and you know what that means. But what can we do.
It has it's +'s and -'s.
I always liked to go late in the afternoon/early evening.
You get the main cluster into the hive before sundown and wait for the scouts to come in.
Then you don't leave very many straglers and when you go down the road nobody
knows what you have.
Just make sure you have the container closed up, screen wire etc.
:)doak