Removing Bees

Started noticing a lot of bees banging into my window late at night and a indistinct humming, but didn’t think about it, until I finally ventured into the backyard (don’t do that very much — not that it’s all horrible or anything, but I just don’t spend a lot of time in the backyard).

Discovered a whole mess of bees clustered around a small hole in the wall, and in a flash I realized what all the symptoms were pointing to: I had a beehive in my wall.

I had to get rid of them, but I was a little hesitant to use poison. For one, it seems ecologically sacrilegious. For two, I’ve heard that if the bees ever manage to make their way back into the original location, the pesticides will make them cranky and more aggressive. Finally, well… aren’t bees good luck? You shouldn’t poison your good luck!

Started calling around to companies to see what it would cost to get them removed. Called a place that advertised “Live Bee Removal,” and they said that they would have no problem coming out and exterminating them for about \$600. I said, “Huh? Isn’t there a way to get rid of bees without poisoning them?” This guy, with 30 years of experience, said, “No, I’ve never heard of one.”

Which seemed strange, so I went to the Google-mind and found a link on removing bees nests without poison, but it seemed more than I could handle, not having ready access to beekeeping equipment. However, once again I am struck with the awesome power of the Internet: it allows me to know very quickly obtain a little knowledge about almost anything. Enough for a five minute party conversation, anyways.

Called around some more, and finally reached a guy that said that he removed them with his hands and released them elsewhere, so no problem. In talking with him I was a little hesitant, but finally asked him to come by whenever he could. He came by a couple of days afterwards, took a look at it and said that it was no problem.

He came by, ripped a hole in the wall, and started moving the bees to the bee boxes:

So, the lesson to be learned? Not one, really, unless it’s “call around until you find the right guy,” as it is possible to remove bees in an ecologically friendly and poison-free manner. Bottom line, though I just thought it was kind of neat, and decided to post the pictures.

Update: Bees are indeed good luck. From “The Encyclopedia of Superstitions”:

Bees in antiquity were sacred as divine messengers and foretellers of the future… It was long considered sacrilegious to kill a bee because of its holy character, and it is still thought to be unlucky in many districts. Bees are, or were, regarded as the wisest of insects, having knowledge of the future and many secret matters.

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