Humane Bee Removal: Why Harming Bees Harms All of Us

We’ve all experienced that sense of dread when we notice bee activity anywhere near our homes. But when they get in…that’s an intolerable situation!

Even if you aren’t allergic to bee stings, no one wants to get stung by these buzzing creatures, or any buzzing insect for that matter. Besides the fear of a bee sting, when honey bees build their homes inside of walls, they can cause thousands of dollars in structural damage. So yes, they must go! But it’s important to remove them from your home with great care so they can continue doing the very important work that bees do – and much of the work they do is for us!

Save the Bees

You might be surprised to learn that one out of every three bites of food you consume comes from a plant that’s visited by pollinators like bees. Honey bees, in particular, are responsible for pollinating our nation’s most essential crops. Some of our nation’s most beloved foods and beverages, such as apples, almonds and coffee, would be far less available or even cease to exist if it weren’t for these pollinators. According to the National Resources Defense Council, more than $15 million per year in U.S. crops are pollinated by bees, and U.S. honey bees produce $150 million in honey every year. If bees die out — which, due to colony collapse disorder and other stressors, is a real possibility — we’ll suffer, too.

Bees nesting inside your house, or anywhere near it can be a very unnerving experience. It’s completely natural to want to go grab the nearest can of pesticide and start spraying. But stop for a minute and consider what you now know about bees and how important they are to our ecosystem. Humane removal of the bees and relocating the hive is really the best solution.

Humane Bee Removal

Dealing with bees that have infiltrated a building is a tricky proposition. Removal of bees requires specialized clothing that fully covers the head and face, and allows for ventilation and visibility. Humane bee removal is best done by experts who know how to expertly to open up structures, remove the comb and bees, and clean up and reassemble the damaged areas of the building. Keep in mind that honey bees work quickly! The hive can grow quite large within a few weeks. You should contact a professional experienced in removal of bees as soon as you suspect you have a problem. ABC Humane Wildlife Control & Prevention has the experience and equipment to safely and humanely remove the bees from your home.

Of course bees are unwelcome in our homes and they must be removed, but they should be removed with care. We must all work together to protect the honey bee, since they do so much for us and it’s our job to keep them safe.

Author Bio

Greg Long is the marketing and communications coordinator at GloryBee, a honey and natural ingredient company, in Eugene, OR. He has nearly completed his three-year journey to becoming a Master Beekeeper.