REALLY local honey!

[sharpstick]

i just found a beehive on my back deck. about ten inches of honeycomb is hanging out of the eaves over my back door, covered with happy bees. (we live a couple blocks from the busch gardens attraction!)
i don't know yet whether to leave it alone, get a beekeeper to remove it, or relocate it to my own hive.
we consider it a blessing of our house and the only considerations are damage to the house.
i'm new to this. any suggestions of a good FAQ or website are welcome.
just what i need, another hobby! but one of my other hobbies is making mead!
bill keiser - tampa florida USA

[rkensparc]

My understanding is that the bees & hive won't damage the structure - however, if the bees abandon the hive, or are removed from the hive, the hive can attract unwanted pests, or more bees.

BTW - I'm very new to beekeeping, so take everything I say with a grain of salt.

[Apis629]

Greetings from across the bay (St. Petersburg),

I'd suggest that you remove that beehive with haste!  Given Tampa has a deepwater port, there is a higher number of more africanized bees in that area.  I'd say that it'd be best to do a cut out and, move them into a standard langstroth hive body.  Monitor them and, do a flag test if you like.  If they start showing too many overly deffensive attributes, requeen.

P.S.  Do you go to the Tampa Bay Beekeepers' Association meetings?

[Kathyp]

and the hive will probably get bigger, and the bees may not stay "happy".  i'm not sure i'd want to have them hanging right on the  house.  

your friends might not be to please if they come to visit with you on the deck,and have to share it with bees! :D

[Ross]

I would get a beekeeper to move them into a hive for you, with you helping of course.