Swarms of honey bees can look frightening, but honey bees are usually not aggressive at this stage of their life cycle. The swarming bees lack a hive to defend and they are more interested in finding a new nesting location for their queen.
Before calling a beekeeper to collect a swarm or colony from your property, be sure you are dealing with HONEY BEES. Honey Bees and Yellow Jackets are often confused — beekeepers will not retrieve yellow jackets. Use the photos here to help identify if you have honey bees.
Yellow Jacket
Honey Bee
Beekeepers are often called to capture swarms. There are various methods to capture a swarm. In the first few hours after a swarm arrives and forms a cluster, it is relatively easy to capture the swarm in a box. Some beekeepers use swarm traps with pheromone lures to attract swarms.
It is best to call a beekeeper as soon as possible since there’s no way to know how long they will remain.
Area Swarm Removal Services
Alamo Honey Farms (Kalamazoo, MI) free Honey Bee swarm removals located outside.
Removals from inside homes and building structures for a fee. We are a Michigan licensed builder. (269) 998-7690 info@alamohoneyfarms.com
Bee Snug Honey & Hive– (Kalamazoo, MI) Free honey bee swarm removal in Allegan, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph Counties. Also honey bee cut-outs and removal of honey bees from buildings for a fee. Cell Phone: 269-330-2305, the best way to reach me! Email: beesnug@snugcomforts.com
Shannon Bigham (Dimondale, MI) Free honey bee swarm removal Ingham, Eaton, Jackson counties. Also for a fee, removal of established colonies in buildings. Phone: 517-646-0745; Email: WillowBlossomFarms@hotmail.com
Ken Hoekstra at J & K Apiaries (Hopkins, MI) Free honey bee swarm removal in Kent and Allegan Counties. Cell Phone: 269-217-6401; Home Phone: 269-793-4611
Email: Beeman3491@gmail.com
Darryl Hosford (Berrien Springs, MI) Swarm removal in Berrien Springs and surrounding towns. Cell Phone: 269-208-2085; Email: darrylhosford@gmail.com
Charlotte Hubbard (Schoolcraft, MI) Free outdoor honey bee swarm removal in Kalamazoo and St. Joseph Counties. Cell: 269-910-0962 Email: primahub@aol.com
Holger Junge (Battle Creek, MI) Free honey bee swarm removal in Calhoun, Eaton, Kalamazoo, Jackson, Hillsdale, Branch and Barry Counties. Removal of colonies from structures and trees for a fee.
Phone: 269-788-2336; Email: jungeh6@gmail.com
Robert Johnson (Clarksville, MI) Free honey bee swarm removal in Ionia County. Also honey bee cut-outs and removal of colonies from buildings. Cell Phone: 616-841-1083, the best way to reach me! Email: ioniapcwizard@yahoo.com
Wayne Kramer (Richland, MI) Free honey bee swarm removal in Northern Kalamazoo, Southern Barry and Southern Allegan counties. Sorry – no bees removed from walls of buildings or trunks of trees.
Cell: 269-377-2247; Home: 269-383-8411
Tom Mitchell (Kalamazoo, MI) Honey bees removed from buildings for a fee by a licensed building contractor. Kalamazoo, Allegan, Van Buren, St.Joseph, Barry and Calhoun Counties. Free removal of honey bee swarms outdoors in the Kalamazoo area. Cell Phone: 269-207-2418 Email: tjklutch@aol.com
Jim Smothers (South Haven, MI) Free honey bee swarm removal for Van Buren, Allegan, Berrien, and Ottawa counties Home phone (269) 639-7462; Cell phone (269)767-2916; Email: jsmothers@btc-bci.com
Jack Tomanica (Nunica, MI) Free honey bee swarm removal in Muskegon, Ottawa and Kent Counties. Phone: 231-853-6371
Matt & Teresa Tucker Sugar Bear Apiaries (Coopersville, MI) Free honey bee swarm removal and will cut out honey bee colonies from trees and buildings. Will work in Ottawa, Kent and Muskegon counties. Phone: 616-638-0213; Email: sugarbearapiaries@gmail.com
Kelly Vander Kley (Matawan, MI) Free honey bee swarm removal in Mattawan, Paw Paw, Schoolcraft, Vicksburg, Mendon, Kalamazoo, and nearby areas. Cell Phone: 269-720-4341; Email: kellyvgirl@aol.com
Greg Willis (Vicksburg, MI) Free honey bee swarm removal in Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and surrounding areas. Phone: 269 760 9979; Email: Willis.willis3@gmail.com
If you don’t find a beekeeper on this list who serves your area, please call your Michigan Beekeepers Association District Representative who will help you locate a local beekeeper. Click the link for a list.