To BEE Removed or Not To BEE: That Should Always BEE A Question
When it comes to bees, there are those who recognize their vitality to the pollination process and will protect them at all costs and those who see them as pests or a threat in any situation. Unfortunately, bees, due to the large numbers (tens of thousands) they travel in and where they make their hive home, can become an inconvenience quickly when their location is in a spot that may cause harm to people or pets. Any areas near where children may be playing are essential to be clear of beehives.
It is known that one sting can cause serious reactions in those who are allergic. However, even someone who is not may still experience a severe reaction to multiple bee stings. Every bee sting releases poison into the skin; therefore, the more stings, the worse the response for anyone. However, this does not mean that every beehive you see should be removed. It is worth considering what is best for the environment because bees are a crucial player in the world’s food production and ecosystem balance.
What To Consider Before Having a Beehive Professionally Removed
Most of the time, when people encounter beehives, they are honeybees. Honeybees are not typically aggressive unless provoked or feeling threatened. This does not mean try to remove a hive on your own because they won’t sting – that is dangerous, and removal should only be done by experienced professional bee removers! If you are facing a beehive on your property or in a location that you feel may pose a threat, consider these things and then call a professional bee removal company if you decide to move forward with the removal.
Does the Beehive Pose an Immediate Threat?
If no one in your family is allergic to bees, it may be worth letting the hive alone. Honeybees do not like to sting, and although a sting can be painful, it is not necessarily worth removing the entire beehive. If there are small children or pets that may be unable to avoid the beehive, it is best to have a professional remove and relocate the hive so it can exist in another area or with a local beekeeper.
How Far Should the Beehive Be from Our Dwelling?
When a beehive is far away from the structure or dwelling you need regular access to, it is not likely a threat. The further away, the less of a risk. Since most bees only sting when they feel their hive is threatened, they do not typically sting while away from the beehive. This is also true in swarming when bees are relocating. Although the sound and vision of a mass of bees moving in unison can be intimidating, they are a very low threat because they do not have a queen with them and are not protecting their hive.
Check the Beehive’s Surroundings
In many cases, bee activity on a property is due to an abundance of flowers, grass, and water sources. Bees, like all living things, need food and water to survive. If you find a beehive is established in a location where there are many of these things, that may be why the bees chose that location for their home. Often, if you find this may be the culprit, simply relocating a water source, like a birdbath, or re-planting a flower bed further from your home will likely reduce the likelihood you will even encounter bees.
Warning: This does not mean eliminating all your plants, flowers, grass, and water sources because they are necessary and vital to bees’ and other pollinators’ survival. However, lowering your risk by moving them further from your home is possible.
To Bee or Not to Bee: That Should Always Be a Question
In many circumstances, wasps are mistaken for bees. Wasps are more aggressive and will sting without provocation. If you have wasps’ nests on your property, having those removed is a good idea. You do not want a wasp’s nest on your property. On the other hand, honeybees are not typically aggressive and are safer to allow to remain on your property when out of the way of foot (and paw) traffic. However, if a beehive is found inside your wall or home, it is critical to have the hive humanely and safely removed immediately. D-Tek Bee Removal is available for same-day calls in most areas and has Southern California’s most professional and experienced bee technicians.
Always call a professional and find a company that is not pest removal but live bee removal to ensure the bees are relocated to an apiary and can continue contributing to pollination.