As the eco-conscious movement grows, more people are becoming aware of the important role bees play in the daily life of every human on earth. Bees are responsible for pollinating 80% of the world's plants, including more than 90 food crops. Without them, our food supply would drastically decline. So when you realize you have a bee infestation in your yard, are you supposed to remove it? Here is how to decide.
Can You Live with It?
Bees are typically not aggressive. They don't attack unprovoked, and mind their own business, looking for some nectar to slurp. If you have a garden you might definitely want to consider leaving the hive alone, since having a bee hive in the general vicinity of your garden will increase your yields. A lot of people want to remove bee hives immediately simply because they fear bees, but now that you know they're not going to hunt you down in your sleep, are you more willing to learn to live harmoniously with them? If not, you have other options.
Can the Hive be Relocated?
Maybe you, someone in your family, or a close neighbor is allergic to bee stings, and having them nearby is too big a risk. Maybe you just simply don't know how you can learn to be okay with bees buzzing around you all the time. No matter your reason for deciding to remove the bee hive, the next thing you should consider is relocation. This involves hiring a bee removal professional, since inexperienced folks stand the risk of being stung many times. The professional will use these steps to relocate the hive:
- They will wait until the bees are inactive. They begin very early in the morning before bees start foraging, or they wait until after sunset, when they cluster together inside the hive for warmth and rest.
- They spray some smoke into the hive about 10 minutes before they pick it up to relocate it.
- They cover the entrance of the hive with tape or flywire.
- They wear protective clothing.
- They spray more smoke about 10 seconds before picking up the hive, then gently pick it up and move it to a more suitable location.
Relocating the hive protects the bee population and helps prevent stings. That's a win-win if ever there was one.
What if You Just Want the Bees Dead?
Sometimes relocating a hive is not possible. It's in an inaccessible location, no one is available to do it in a timely manner, or you just cannot deal with bees in your space for any longer than necessary. When that happens, it's time to consider having the hive destroyed. There are a couple of ways to do it. You can hire a professional if you cannot find the hive or prefer not to take the risk of being stung, or you can do it yourself. Here's how:
- Do it very early in the morning, before the sun comes up, or late in the evening after sunset. This ensures that the whole colony is inside the hive. Leaving a few individuals free could provide an opportunity for them to reestablish themselves.
- Spray the whole hive with a foaming insecticide, making sure to get it into the entrance. As the poison expands it will contact all the bees in the colony and leave them dead.
Bees can be scary to deal with, but they are an important part of the circle of life. It's okay if you need to have the hive destroyed, but it's also beneficial to consider leaving it be or have it relocated. Consult a pest control specialist to decide what's best for you.
