Swarms

A swarm is a natural process where a new queen and thousands of worker bees leave an established hive to find a new home. It will temporarily gather on a surface before scouts find a permanent location. Once that location is found, the swarm will move in and begin establishing a new colony.

A honeybee swarm becomes the property of whoever captures it by hiving it in a suitable container, or, if it settles on private property, the owner of that property may claim ownership. If a swarm flies from your hive, it's considered yours until it's out of sight or settles elsewhere; the first person to take and hive it becomes the new owner.  

If you find a bee swarm, leave it undisturbed and keep children and pets away from the area. Contact a local beekeeper, your county extension office, or us for safe removal and rehoming. Do not try to spray the swarm with pesticides or attempt to move them yourself, as this can stir up the bees and cause them to become aggressive.

Beekeepers must provide ample space, adequate food, and good ventilation to relieve congestion and discourage colony buildup. Key methods include adding empty boxes ("supers") for storage and space, splitting the colony into a new hive to relieve pressure, and ensuring the queen has enough room to lay eggs.

Learn more about splitting hives here.