This is some useful information and Advice when invited to collect a swarm of bees. I distribute it freely, what you do with it will determine what kind of person you are.

 
I am asked fairly often to do a multitude of bee related services in my community. I do this to help the community, to help bees, and to bring recognition of the knowledge and struggles of bees to the community at large. Because of this, I feel a great sense of responsibility when it comes to the image I as a beekeeper portray to the public. To that end ive got some advice when invited to collect a swarm of bees for you.

I also realize it takes a great deal of trust to call someone you do not know and ask them to come to your property to remove some bees. Every business or homeowner has these concerns and they are warranted. Especially since in the past unscrupulous people may have come to their home, done some work and left with a hand tool or something else of value that was found near where they were working. I want to make sure when I leave a home or job site in as good condition as when I found it, if not better.

In this video, I was called to do a swarm capture by a large construction company in Greenville, NC. The swarm had clustered on a tree limb less than 6 feet away from the front door of one of the construction trailers. This was causing at least one or two of the "men" :) some nervousness. So they asked if I could come out and clear the site of the bees so that the men could get back to work.

The company trusted me enough to have left me there alone. They just trusted that when they came in Monday morning for work, that the swarm would be gone, but none of the tools or power equipment on site would be. I appreciate that trust and make sure to repay it with trustworthiness.

Enjoy the video and listen to the end for my tips to make sure you are invited back to the next swarm your customer, neighbor, city councilman, police officer, or construction company finds. You will increase your apiary size for free and make lasting relationships that people can count on.

Advice when invited to collect a swarm of bees:

  • Be respectful
  • Be on time
  • Be well dressed (seasonally of course). If you are in shorts, make sure they are clean, you get the idea.
  • Do not curse
  • Do not drop trash and if you do clean it up
  • Give the site a twice-over when you're done to make sure every trace of you ever being there has been removed.
  • Answer questions the folks may have

---- Clifton Murphy