The importance of gentle bee relocation: How to move hives safely

The swarming season for honeybees in South Africa has begun. The summer months and spring are usually when bees reproduce and buzz around looking for new places to build beehives.

This often happens when a new queen is born and a new colony has to be established.

That’s when we see a swarm that has just split from an established colony to set up a new colony. These swarms are often weak due to travel and are less aggressive than an established colony.

Cape Town beekeeper Gerald Reed from Gerald's Bees explains; " When bees leave their hive they know that they will be without food for a while so they store sufficient food until they can find a new hive. This means that generally they will be less excitable and easier to handle."

Recently my home was chosen by a swarm of bees to become their new home.

Now we all know that bees are among the most vital creatures on our planet, playing a crucial role in pollination, food production, and biodiversity, so I was reluctant to take the advice of a few friends who suggested that I cover the entrance hole and trap them in the hive.

Smoking them out was not an option either as they had found their way into the bricks and this could force them further into the brickwork.

The solution was to contact a professional beekeeper to relocate them, which is a lengthier process, however I felt more comfortable knowing that they would not be harmed.

Rather than using pesticides or forcefully removing hives, experienced beekeepers use a method that naturally encourages bees to move to a new home.

This process involves setting up a used bee hive box next to the existing hive, allowing the bees to gradually transition.

It takes around ten days for the bees to relocate to the new box and the beekeeper will advise you to avoid the area during the process.

Reed advises that during the relocation process one avoids the area where the hive is and wear shoes if walking past as there may be bees on the ground and if you stand on the bee it will sting, even if it appears to be dead.

Here's how it works:  

• The beekeeper will place a used hive box next to the hive. 
• A funnel is carefully attached to the entrance of the old hive. This allows bees to leave but prevents them from returning, forcing them to search for a new shelter.  
• The used hive box is prepared with propolis, a sticky resin-like substance that bees naturally produce and find highly attractive. As worker bees search for a way back, they are drawn to the new hive and begin settling in.  
• With worker bees moving to the new hive and not returning, the queen eventually realises her colony is gone. She instinctively leaves the old hive to join them, completing the relocation process.  
• Once the entire colony has moved, beekeepers transport the hive to a bee farm, where the bees can thrive, pollinate crops, and produce honey.

Why it’s important to save bees 

Bees are responsible for pollinating over 75% of flowering plants and approximately one-third of the food we consume. 

Without them, agriculture would suffer, affecting the production of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Ethical hive relocation not only protects these essential pollinators but also supports sustainable beekeeping practices.  

By using this method to move hives, beekeepers ensure that bees continue their vital work while keeping both people and pollinators safe. 

So the next time you see a hive in an inconvenient location, remember that although it may take a little longer to remove the bees from their hive, there is an alternative to smoking them out or using pesticides to handle the situation.

IOL Lifestyle