NOTE WE DO NOT REMOVE BEES FROM CONCRETE BLOCK WALLS.

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We are NOT an exterminator company, but occasionally we will help rescue bees to be relocated to our Apiary.  Perhaps you see a swarm and are concerned it may start to settle in an unwanted area, or maybe honey bees have settled someplace they are not welcomed.  

If you see a swarm (a mass of honey bees in a big ball without a nest), and if the swarm is accessible (generally no higher than 10 feet off the ground) we can usually catch and remove the swarm.  Swarm removals are usually easy, so generally won't charge you fees to do this.  Swarming usually only occurs in the spring season but there are occasional swarms in the summer or fall and technically in Florida, they can occur at any time.  

 

If you have honey bees that have moved someplace they are not welcome, then the time of year is important.  Once winter weather sets in and nights are below 50F, it's usually unwise to rescue bees because they have low odds of surviving the move and the process of removal can set off a storm of bee "robbing" behaviors.  Any movement of bees is best done on days with light or no winds 70F-90F temperatures.  Although sometimes exceptions are possible they can cause trouble.  Waiting until Springtime is the best option when removal will be easier and healthier for the bees.  Winter bees rarely bother anyone so waiting is a good choice.  Mid-summer can also be challenging for bee removals...high heat (over 100F) and large colony numbers from the spring build-up can make rescue work slow and transportation of the bees more difficult because they can overheat.  If it's hot, waiting until early Fall may be best.  

 

If you need help with honey bees, send us an email or text with pictures of the bees along with your contact and location info.  If we determine a rescue is feasible, we'll either come right away in the case of a swarm or make an appointment with you to evaluate the situation if the bees are already nested.  Before you contact us, please read our agreement for the removal of bees below to understand the terms and conditions of our rescue work.

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Agreement for Removal of Bees

 

 

The Property Owner identified below authorizes the Beekeeper and Honey Flow Apiary to remove colony(ies) of honey bees from the property identified below. The Beekeeper will make the best effort to remove all comb to ensure no honey or brood remains to attract pests or cause damage. The Beekeeper will make the best effort to remove as many honeybees from the property as possible. 100% removal of all honeybees belonging to this particular colony may not be possible because a portion of the colony will be out collecting nectar and pollen. When these bees eventually return to the hive location to find their colony missing, they usually disperse within 24-48 hours. In order to attract these residual bees away from the cavity formerly occupied by the bees and to clean out any residual honey remaining in the cavity, the beekeeper may leave a beehive at the site for a day or two after the removal is complete. The Beekeeper relieves the Property Owner of any liability should an accident occur causing injury to the Beekeeper or damage to his equipment while performing bee removal services provided such injury is not the result of the Property Owner’s negligence or deliberate act. The Beekeeper may either disassemble the structure containing the honey bee colony or cooperate with the Property Owner’s repairman as necessary to remove the bee colony. The Beekeeper will make the best effort to minimize damage to the structure. The Property Owner understands that bee colony removal may require disassembly of, or damage to, parts of walls, floors, ceilings, roof, interior, exterior, tree, or other parts of the honey-bee-inhabited cavity in order to remove the honey bees and honeycomb from the cavity. The Property Owner understands that the Beekeeper will not perform repairs nor be held responsible for any repair work required resulting from the honey bee colony removal effort or from accidental damage. The Property Owner understands that all repairs are his or her responsibility. The Property Owner understands that his or her repairman performing the repairs must promptly seal up the cavity and cavity entrance properly to ensure that no other colony of honeybees will find and inhabit the same location in the future. It is the Property Owner’s sole responsibility to communicate this information to the contractor. The Property Owner understands he or she is urged to obtain an estimate of repair costs prior to the commencement of bee removal. The Beekeeper will consult with the repairman at no charge to ensure the repairman knows what the Beekeeper expects to do.

 

The Property Owner understands that the bee removal process may require multiple visits to complete. The Beekeeper will make the best effort to complete the removal expeditiously. The Property Owner understands that the bee colony, comb, and honey become the property of the Beekeeper once the removal process begins. The Property Owner relieves the Beekeeper of any liability should any person on or near the property receive a bee sting during or after the bee removal process and will take necessary steps to restrict access to the removal site. The Property Owner will not apply any pesticides or other harmful substances on or near the bee colony or on any blooming plants on the property until after the Beekeeper reports that the removal work is complete. The Property Owner has applied the following pesticides on the following approximate dates: ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________

 

Failure to disclose pesticides can cause injury to people and the Apiary where the bees will be relocated, please be honest about any treatments used so the beekeeper knows what parts of the hive might be contaminated and with which treatments.

 

The Property Owner agrees to re-reimburse the Beekeeper the rate of $50/hour per hour while work is underway with a maximum of  $(determined at the time of assessment)   We have a car mileage charge of $1 per map mile round trip from our Apiary in Nokomis, Florida.    Honey Flow Apiaries also charges a flat rate expense charge per job of $75 per job that covers disposable /non-reusable equipment and materials used, and other minor out-of-pocket expenses for your rescue work.

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(Honey Flow Apiary sometimes engages in volunteer work as a community service, and sometimes we use other beekeepers with particular skills who charge for their time.  This will depend upon the complexity of your rescue, time of year,  as well as your particular needs.  We take into consideration community safety, your financial ability, etc.)  

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Note that an “average” hive with easy access will take about 3-4 hours for a typical removal job. The Beekeeper will discount $50 from fees if the queen bee is recovered unless she has Africanized Honeybee race traits and must be re-queened or the hive has been previously contaminated by pesticides.  Discounts only apply to the hourly fees of the beekeepers and cannot exceed the fees charged.

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If the honeycomb has not been contaminated, the beekeeper will usually offer the homeowner a few pounds of fresh honey-filled comb for your enjoyment and it is recommended you have a gallon-sized zip lock baggie or similar sealable container for this as fresh comb can be quite sticky.

 

In some cases, the comb cannot be reached due to physical logistics and the Beekeeper will inform you of your available options. This may entail a long-term trap out of the bees which can take several weeks to a month or two. Sometimes we are unable to accept a job if it's too dangerous or it's too difficult to be practical and cost-effective for the homeowner. We do not do work on any species of bees except European Honeybees. We will not work on bees that are known to be Africanized races although that can not always be determined in advance and if we encounter them we may stop work and call off the job to ensure the safety of the area.

 

Note on the day of bee rescue, there should be no confined animals or people who have not been informed of the work within 100 yards of the rescue.

 

Note that we will require access to power and water to do our rescue. Because jobs can take several hours we may need access to a bathroom and changing area.

Payment in full is due when the removal procedure is complete. And we will normally inform you when we are within 30 minutes of finishing work. Usually, we are transporting live (and often nervous) bees directly from the job site to our Apiary and the beekeepers won't have time to talk much after the job. So be sure and ask questions before the job is in process. Note also that a shop vacuum will be running the entire time of the rescue (where bees are vacuumed into a bee box) so it's a little difficult to talk during the removal. Upon request, Honey Flow Apiary will sometimes be able to provide protective bee suits/gear to either your contractor or the homeowner for assistance in getting to the bees. Honey Flow Apiary typically carries an Epi-Pen during rescue work for ourselves but if you, or anyone in your family or area is allergic to bees please let us know in advance so precautions can be taken.

 

 

 

Name of Property Owner ______________________________________________

Property Location and Description _______________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

Property Owner Phone Number _________________________________________

Property Owner Signature ______________________________________________

Name of Beekeeper __________________________________________________

Beekeeper Phone Number _____________________________________________

Beekeeper Signature __________________________________________________

 

 

 

Other beekeepers in the area we recommend that may be closer to you are:

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We would recommend Brian Chrisman (Bradenton, North Sarasota)
Sarasota, FL
Phone: 941-441-5220
Email: Swampsquash@gmail.com for north sarasota or Manatee County

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or Ron Goulet for South Manatee County / Venice Area.  Phone: (941) 716-1769

 

 

 

 

 

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