When you guys/gals find swarms, are you out looking for them or do you just happen to stumble across them or ??? I would like to try my hand at capturing a swarm. I know what to do if one is found, but finding one is a mystery to me.
Jeremy
Most of the swarms I found were by simple dumb luck
Keith
google swarm removal. put your name on some of the lists you find. get your name on the list on this site. list on craigs list. put up fliers at feed stores, or your local beekeeping store.
Yes Kathy is right, get your name out there. Most of the ones I've gotten are because people know we keep bees.
David
Big one is to get on the swarm list of your state and local beekeepers assoc websites.
90% of my swarm calls come from exterminators. Call every one of them in your area and give them your contact info. Keep a catch box in each vehicle you own and one at home. They will not call again if you do not come or take hours to get ready. They want people who will come immediately.
Join a local club. I'm part of the swarm removal at the Pierce Co. Beekeepers and get lots of calls cause of that. Also, go to your local fire department and let them know you're a local beekeeper and will catch swarms for free. Seems lots of people like to call their fire dept when a swarm lands in their yard for some reason.
Sean Kelly
We get a lot of swarm calls through our bee club swarm list, but this year we sent postcards to all the local exterminators in the yellow pages advertising free swarm catching ($35/ hour for cutouts) and the phone is ringing off the hook! good luck and hooray for free bees!
I listed with the local Dept of Agriculture and got 2 phone calls from them so far. Also my beekeeping association list worked.
Once I got past the " Good old boy club", the ones that the County Inspector calls first, I can't keep up with the removals. I get most of mine from people that knows someone that I do who knows that I keep bees. I have averaged a swarm a day, the past week. I have seen where people advertise in the local paper for swarm removals and on the local radio station. Once your name gets out, be sure to have plenty of equipment around to keep up!
How late in the season does this continue to happen? I have two empty hives I'd love to populate :-D
Jeremy
You better start buying some equipment if you are going to advertise. I have filled about 20 this year and the season is just getting into swing. I have had at least one call every day this week.
Do you find that most calls the bees are out of reach? I am not into climbing tree's 30' up.
What other type of equipment do you guys/gals bring along when you're called for a swarm (non-bee keeping, such as a saw or other equipment to help you get to or actually get the bees).
Thanks for all the information in this thread, it's been great so far!
Jeremy
there is a removal section on here that has a lot of info and pics. this year i have been fortunate to get lower swarms. if they are more than 15 ft, i pass. that's the hight my poll pruner will reach from the top of my ladder.
i take a 5 frame cardboard nuc with one frame of drawn foundation in it. i save a few frames from year to year just for swarms. a tarp, pruners, some screening and duct tape, sugar spray with some lemongrass oil in it. guess that's the main stuff. swarms are pretty easy most of the time.
a bee vac would be nice, but i don't have one yet. it's on my list........
I screen the caller for details. I keep my normal stuff in the truck all swarm season. I then grab ladder, pole and bucket, whatever, and go.