First Swarm!

[mtnb]

A few weeks ago I found this page for local swarm removals so I added my name. It said they would contact me once my info was posted but I never heard anything so I forgot about it. Well yesterday this hotel manager lady called me from Bozeman and said she had a swarm in a tree and needed it removed. The other guy she spoke with said he could kill them so she told him NO don't come I'll find someone else. lol She called me and I went and got them! I am soooo stinkin excited! I was giving up on me catching a swarm this season. I gave them some drawn comb and will put some food on once it warms up a bit. Too bad I have this thing called a job or I'd watch them all day. Lol

http://s284.photobucket.com/user/MTBeeGirl/media/First%20Swarm%20July%2024%202016/image.jpg1_zpsjmj8aczq.jpg.html?sort=2&o=0

[Dallasbeek]

Congratulations.  Whole lot easier than that cutout!

[mtnb]

Lol Thanks! Yes definitely what I was thinking too. lol That's ok. Easier is not always better. 

[Dallasbeek]

You got the queen, right?  You got a bunch of nice, calm bees, I hope.  you didn't get stung.  You didn't have to work real hard.  What's not to like about it?

[divemaster1963]

Congrats.
Isn't it neat that when you get there and they are at the perfect hight. Then when you pull out the box and get everything ready the caller asks if your going to put a beesuit on and you say naw. The look in there eyes when you walk up to the bees and stick your face up to them to look for the Queen. Then just shake them into the box while in tee shirt and shorts. That's when I start the education and then give them a couple jam jars of honey for getting the call. I also hand them  quality control questionaire and if they would be willing to answer a reference questionnaire and permission to use them as reference. Have gotten great referrals from doing this.


John

[GSF]

Congrads! Love it when a plan comes together. I could see the buts up in the air - you got her. btw, nice size swarm too.

[little john]

Great news.  The hotel people are pleased - you're well pleased - a win-win all round.  Excellent.

[Nugget Shooter]

Great and nice and easy so far.... All my calls have been cut outs....

[mtnb]

Thanks guys. That's a great idea about the referrals, John. I did go back into the hotel afterwards and thanked them for calling me and handed the guy my card and asked him to "tell your friends". lol The manager who called me was gone by that time though. It so was perfect height! When I asked her during her phone call about how high up they were and she said about 5' I almost laughed (in relief) lol. I'm 5'2" so they were a bit higher but it was great. I did have to scoop them up with my dust pan because they were all around the trunk but absolutely, when I saw them on the edge of the box with their butts up, I knew I had her. That's when I put it up on the ladder and smoked the trunk and they all went in. They were so many though and when I brought them down from the latter, a lot of them were bearding. It wasn't like the videos were they all went inside. lol I tried smoking them in which stirred them up again so I did end up squooshing a few when putting the lid on. I think next time I need to reduce the lid entrance area sooner. I put my bed sheet over the box when we drove home though and some were still clinging on, cold but alive. lol

My husband who came with me and being a builder saw issues before they caused a problem. Haha yes, Bob the builder lol. Like the sprinkler system in the lawn that is set on a timer. He saw it moving towards us about every 10 minutes which would have soaked me and aggravated the bees already in the box so he covered the heads up with make shift stuff and prevented that problem. It was really nice to have an extra set of eyes and hands. And being right by the entrance of the hotel, I had an audience of several families and their children. I spoke briefly to the kids about swarms and nests and pollination and such. After I set things up and before I began I said, Ok, is everybody ready? I got a big yes! lol So I said, ok, so if you see me running, try and keep up. Lol Bob talked to the kids while I worked and said he was amazed at all the bee facts he knew. Yes, I guess he actually listens to me lol who knew? lol He said one girl was so fascinated that she kept exclaiming that she wants to keep bees when she grows up and wanted to know if she had to go to college for beekeeping. lol

It really was the perfect end to a horrible starting day.

Yvonne

[BeeMaster2]

Congratulations. Enjoy your bees.
Jim

[Rurification]

Yvonne - Great story!!    You're a natural entertainer.   Those families will never forget that and I'm betting it will be the highlight of their vacations and the thing they talk about most when they get home. 

There is nothing sweeter than a swarm catch that goes well.   Drop them in the box, they go down, butts up and then get settled.   

[cao]

Great story with a happy ending.   

[KeyLargoBees]

two thumbs up Yvonne....its always nice when it works out :-)