It’s bee season. The time of year when you watch where you step, pause before you pick that bunch of lavender, and sit stock still when a bee comes to sniff your new perfume. We learn to live with bees because they play a crucial role in pollination and ecosystem health, but sometimes the bees just need to go.
If you find bees in your home, there are some proactive steps you can take to remove them or at least minimize the problem until professionals can step in. Whatever you do, do it carefully to ensure your safety and that of the bees.
Try to determine if there are just a few bees or if you have a whole colony building. Figure out where they may be entering your home and look for locations where they congregate like in your attic, a fireplace chimney, or eave. Do not disturb the bees. Attempting to remove them yourself will provoke them making it more likely you’ll be stung.
If you locate their entryway, if possible, seal it off to prevent more bees from arriving. Even if you are still determining how they are getting in, take a good look around and seal off cracks and gaps around windows, doorways, pipes, cables, and electric sockets. A little caulk and weather stripping can go a long way in not only preventing a larger bee infestation but also keeping other pests out.
Contact a professional beekeeper or bee removal service that specializes in live bee relocation. At Northwest Pest Control we’re happy to connect you to the services of the Oregon State Beekeepers Association which maintains a list of people who can safely remove bees, often at no charge. They have the knowledge and experience to safely remove the bees and relocate them, and they can suggest temporary measures to minimize the bees’ activity until they can arrive. While you wait, try to maintain your distance from the bees, avoiding any unnecessary activity near them. Ideally, close off the area where they are living.
If the bees are located in an area you can’t avoid, like by a doorway or in a garage, or worse, have taken up residence where your pets and kids play, a skilled beekeeper can often remove the entire nest. Bee control companies always prefer to relocate rather than exterminate and work hard to avoid causing unnecessary harm to the bee colony and the environment. Experienced beekeepers with the right equipment and knowledge can safely remove the nest.
It is important to emphasize that bees are vital to the environment and should be protected whenever possible. Remember, bees are important pollinators, and whenever possible should be safely relocated rather than exterminated. Contact Northwest Pest Control if you have bees. We can help connect you to a beekeeper or take more immediate action if needed.