Swarm Capture

Professional capture of honey bee swarms from trees, fences, vehicles, playgrounds, and other exposed locations throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and beyond. Most swarm captures can be completed within an hour, and many are provided at no charge.

A honey bee swarm typically contains between 10,000 and 30,000 bees clustered around their queen. While the sight can be alarming, swarming bees are at their most docile — they have no hive to defend and are simply resting while scouts search for a permanent home. The window for easy capture is usually 24 to 72 hours before the swarm moves on to a wall void, chimney, or other structure where removal becomes far more complex.

Our beekeepers arrive equipped with transport boxes, bee brushes, modified vacuums, and protective gear. For branch swarms, we often position the collection box directly beneath and give the branch a firm shake — the entire cluster drops in. For swarms on flat surfaces like fences, vehicles, or playground equipment, we use a combination of gentle brushing and smoke to guide the bees into the box. Once the queen is secured, the remaining bees follow her pheromone trail within minutes.

Every captured swarm is inspected for signs of disease or Africanized genetics before being introduced to our managed apiaries. We take swarm calls seriously because every hour counts — call us the moment you spot a swarm and we will respond as quickly as possible.