Bee Infestations Revealed

A bee infestation can seemingly occur overnight, but the reality is that it has more than likely been slowly developing, and the signs were either missed or ignored. The thought of a giant beehive in our attic, wall, or garage is not something most people are even thinking about when they notice increased bee activity or find dead bees in their homes. Bees are protected and undisturbed inside a structure, so they may end up there if they can find a way in. When bees build their colony inside a structure, they can become a big problem that must be addressed, and a full-scale infestation can weigh a significant amount and require professional removal. When the honeycomb is inside the wall, it must all be removed so that nothing remains. If anything is left behind, it will rot, and the next thing people are dealing with is ants, roaches, and rats.

Newsworthy Infestations

There have been some surprising news stories about bee infestations, where homeowners ended up facing a giant right inside their homes. The one common thread between all these stories and others is that the longer a beehive is left in a building's structure, the more it grows in size, mess, and cost to clean up!

450,000 bees in Philadelphia Home

The story reveals the danger of letting bees remain inside a structure. The existing homeowners did not want to remove the bees and sold it without a complete view of disclosure of their existence in the structure of the home. Unfortunately, the beehive in this home was likely there for more than 30 years, costing the new homeowner over $12,000.

Georgie Home Infested for the Third Time

Leaving a beehive, trying to remove the problem without professional help, or hiring someone unqualified to get rid of the beehive will leave room for their return and other pests.

Toddler’s Monsters Were Buzzing Bee Colony

Toddlers talking about monsters in their rooms is nothing new. Most parents comfort their children and do not think further about it. No parent thinks their child is talking about the buzzing of tens of thousands of bees inside the wall. Even when it doesn’t make sense, looking into the problem earlier may have led to an easier extraction.

One of the stories mentions how the existing homeowners did not want to remove the bees and sold it without a complete view of disclosure of their existence in the structure of the home. Unfortunately, the beehive in this home was likely there for more than 30 years, costing the new homeowner over $12,000.

What to Watch For

One of the best ways for homeowners and businesses to address concerns about bees is to get an inspection as soon as there is a suspicious amount of bee activity or other signs. Ignoring signs will only result in larger infestations and higher costs. Professional humane beekeepers will charge to completely remove the hive, but when hiring a company, ensure they take measures to remove live bees and move them to a new home. Even though the bee infestation is a pain to have and get rid of, there is no reason to kill all the bees. Additionally, tens of thousands of dead bees, honeycombs, and other beehive remnants, if not removed in their entirety, will become a nightmare again later. Some of the signs that bees may be making a home in your structure include:

• Increase in bee activity outside the home as well as inside
• Audible buzzing or humming sounds
• Visible entry points into the structure
• Stains on the walls, ceiling, or other parts of the structure
• Piles of sawdust (Carpenter bees)
• A musty odor may indicate honey or wax building up

Any of these signs should be investigated immediately. A professional beekeeper and a bee removal company will have the tools to identify if there is an infestation. Finding the hive, determining its size, and offering the following steps are critical to addressing a bee infestation.