How Can You Humanely Free Your Property From Bees?
Bees have been in the news quite a bit lately, from articles about the effects of pesticides on their colonies, to warnings that without intervention; bees will soon become extinct. As humans, we depend on bees to pollinate and help sustain our food supply. With all this in mind, bees can still be a nuisance -- particularly if you are allergic to bee stings or have young children who may have a bad encounter. What options do you have to humanely and sustainably encourage these bees to settle elsewhere? Read on for some tips on ridding your property of these helpful pests.
Evaluate Your flowers
As with any type of pest removal, eliminating the pest's food source is the first step. Bees are particularly drawn to fragrant blooms in the blue and yellow families, as these are the only colors bees are able to see. Eliminating any yellow flowers from your garden is a good step; however, there are other plants that can actually even discourage bees. Feverfew is one such plant -- it's small white flowers look like daisies, but emit a strong odor that bees find unpleasant.
Remove Water Sources
Like other animals and insects, bees need a constant source of water to survive. If you have outdoor sources of water such as birdbaths, animal dishes, or kiddie swimming pools, you may wish to temporarily drain these until your bees have moved on.
However, not all water sources are so easily removed. If you have a pond, creek, or other natural source of water on your property, you may need to invest in professional bee removal services. Bees often establish their hives near ponds and creeks, so if you notice a large number of bees on your property, it is likely that they have set up residence there.
Contact A Professional
If neither of the above methods are successful, or if you have a source of water that cannot be removed, your next step should be to contact an apiarist, or professional beekeeper. Apiarists are experts on the behavior of bees, and are also invested in the continued health and stability of beehives.
An apiarist should not only be able to remove the beehive without harming or disturbing the bees, but also find this beehive a welcome new home. If you're able to find out which budding apiarist ended up with your hive, you may even be able to purchase a sweet honey treat created by your former pests! For more information on bee removal, go to http://www.beeremovalnow.com.