beehive

[olives]

My brother called me yesterday, he has a beehive that popped up
overnight on a tree in his garden. He has small children and wants
the bees moved. Everyone he's called said they will only come out and kill them. He does not want to kill them.
He lives in Decatur. It told him I would post here and see if
you guys had any ideas.

Thanks
olive

[P Ferrell]

First a question:
Is it a "hive" or a swarm?
A hive is a "nest" where the bees are actively building combs for brood/honey/etc. Your description sounds more like a swarm. A swarm is a bunch of bees clustered around a queen - this is a colony on the move. Likely, they will keep on moving to find a suitable hive location. By the time you get back to your brother, the bees may already be gone.
A bee swarm is generally docile since they have no hive to defend. In fact, I've gone up and "petted" a swarm or two. I don't recommend it if you have any bee allergies, though.
In any case. this would be a great learning opportunity for the kids.

Contact a the regional beekeeper's association to see if they have any local members interested in acquiring another colony. Another good resource would be the Wise County Extension Office - they will often know local beekeepers who may want them. In any case, they would almost never recommend destroying them.

Regards,
Patrick "ain't bees a wonderful thing" Ferrell
Allen, Texas

[olives]

Thanks Patrick! :)
I am forwarding your post to him.
He does have a bee allergy but
definately does not want them destroyed.

olive

[Tricky Grama]

We had a hive or swarm in an old huge bois d'arc for a couple years. We just watched them & tried not to disturb them. Never got stung. They didn't come back last year or this year, tho.

Neighbors had a swarm in a tree also & since one is allergic, they called a beekeeper who moved it. I'm pretty sure he didn't kill them. So there are alternatives.

Patty

[olives]

Bee update
He called the local extension office, they gave him the # of an 80 yr old gentleman in his area. He came and got the bees, said they were the "nicest bees he's ever seen."

Promised them his first jar of honey. :D

olive

[Tony M]

Olive-
Please thank your brother for me for being patient and doing the right thing. The bees are worth it.
Tony M

[goo0h]

olives wrote: He called the local extension office, they gave him the # of an 80 yr old gentleman in his area. He came and got the bees, said they were the "nicest bees he's ever seen."
80 years old. I sure hope bee keeping doesn't become a lost skill. Anyway, glad to hear it worked out.