Hey Folks, Tristen from local beekeeping company Southern Oregon Swarms here to remind you that as the warm weather rolls in, it will be bringing swarms of bees in with it!
Every year hobbyist and commercial beekeepers as well as ferral hives locally will have successfully overwintered honey bee hives that are ready to go forth and multiply! When bees swarm and land in a cluster they’re called a bivouac. These clusters are a lot like the bees having a baby. They’re out here looking for a new home, with no intention on bothering anyone.
When they leave their parent hive they likely already have some idea where they’re going, but you can help give them the BEST chance at a successful relocation by calling a local beekeeper or beekeeping organization. Many times an excited beekeeper will bring their equipment out and save the bees right away from the many dangers they would face having to make the rest of their journey on their own.
Every once in a while the bees find a crevice in a home or outbuilding and make their homes there. You will notice they start bringing nectar and pollen in the entrance on their cute little pollen pants. These can be cute for a while but likely will need to be removed.
This is when Southern Oregon Swarms comes out and performs what is called a cut out. Removing the bees while saving the hive and removing an agitation from the homeowner is the goal of every cut out.
Please remember that here in southern Oregon we do not have many cases (if any at all) of africanized bees. This means that a bivouac seen locally is generally just a resting gentle giant, and while you should never approach a cluster of bees these specifically are not going to try to sting you if you give them a respectful distance and call that beekeeper!
For additional information, please contact: Tristen Tartaglia, 541-973-0981
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest editor and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Medford Alert. The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. Medford Alert makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the article or the information contained therein. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
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