Why do I do this? Bee colonies across the nation are in serious decline. This new, unexplained condition has become known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). It is estimated that about a quarter of the 2.4 million commercial bee colonies across the nation have been lost just since last autumn, and in some areas the loss is almost 90 percent. The impact of this loss is enormous because honey bees are the primary pollinators of much of the nation’s food crops. Here in California, producers of almonds, apples, alfalfa, avocados, blueberries, citrus, tree fruit, and watermelons, among many other crops, depend on a healthy bee population for crop pollination. We need every bee! All bees come back to live on my sustainable farm in Sonoma County.

What can you do to help Honey Bees?
Plant Bee friendly plants
Report Bee Swarms
Buy Organic
Become a Bee Keeper!

Bee Removal For Free!
We remove bees for FREE in Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino Counties, California. (Please consult the list below if you live in another area)

Before calling please read the following:

1. Do you have honey bees? We are only interested in honey bees. Please click here to see the differences if you are not sure.

2. Do not spray them with anything, this includes water. Leave them alone, stay away from them and call us. If you have sprayed them with insecticide please do not call us.

3. You need to be able to tell us where the honey bees are and how long they have been there. Will we need a ladder? Is it on your property? Etc...

4. Email us a photo immediately if you can. Since we provide free bee removal we get many calls. It helps us tremendously to see the bees first so that we can prioritized your call and bring the necessary equipment.

Call 707-632-6213
(Leave a message, we are often just outside and check messages frequently. )

Swarming: Honey bee colonies reproduce by a process called swarming. During mid-winter, the queen begins laying eggs and the colony population grows. By spring, the nest is congested with many new honey bees. The colony raises a new queen and the old queen flies away accompanied by more than half the bees. This flying swarm temporarily clusters on an object, such as a tree branch, while scout bees search for a permanent nest site. A hanging swarm may assume any shape, depending on the surface on which it is clustered. Most hanging swarms are round or oval, about the size of a basketball, and dark brown.  If a swarm settles during the morning of a fine day, very probably it will move on within an hour or two unless the weather deteriorates so call ASAP. If it settles during the afternoon, it is unlikely to move on until the following morning and it has become warmed by the sun.

Collecting Swarms: I’m happy to collect settled honey bee swarms in Sonoma County for free providing the task will not be difficult (40’ in a tree for example is a challenge) nor pose undue risk to other people or property. If the task is difficult or risky then you might consider that the local pest control officer should be called. Conversely, if you call the pest control officer first, most will not destroy a honeybee swarm until a beekeeper has been given the opportunity to collect it.  I will remove established bee colonies in houses only if you agree to have a contractor repair the damage. I don't not take responsibility for the damage. I'm would simply be there to remove the bees. You must do the repairs or hire a contractor. I will not remove any bees without this written consent. Many times honey bees are in barns, garages, or outbuildings and if you give written permission, and repair any damage I will remove the bee hive.  I'm also frequently to remove hives from utility equipment/boxes.

See how its done inside a barn wall

What I need to know: Please let me know where the honey bee swarm is located, is it on your property, will I need a ladder, how long you've noticed the honey bee swarm and the approximate size of the bee swarm?  Also, please do not spray the bees with anything, as I will not want to remove any honey bees that have been chemically sprayed!  (I don’t want to kill my bees back home in!) I’m not an exterminator, but a beekeeper.  If you have yellow jackets, bumblebees, wasps or hornets I cannot help you.  I’m interested in honey bees only.  However, please call before destroying them if you are unsure or click here to view pictures of honey bees vs wasp, etc... 

What does it cost? I do not charge as I’m passionate about saving our declining honey bees! However you will be asked to buy any supplies necessary (normally just foam sealant). I remove swarms only in Sonoma County, California. Sometimes I will travel to Napa, Marin or Mendocino Counties. We will be moving to Mendocino County soon will soon be taking more calls from there.

John 707-632-6213 hm or Cell 415-269-8036 Please leave a detailed message as I check them frequently. Email me at Rescue@BeeCharmers.org

Proud Member of:

and the Sonoma County Beekeepers Association