Two Active Beehives, One Busy Day
Jerry called us with an interesting situation—two active beehives at his Las Vegas home. Bees had taken up residence in both the soffit of his house and the block wall on the side. After conducting a thorough free beehive inspection, it was clear that this was going to be a major bee removal operation.
Tackling the Block Wall Hive First
We decided to start by addressing the bees in the block wall. To pinpoint the exact location of the hive, we used our trusted Flir thermal camera to detect the heat signature of the bee cluster. Once we had a clear visual, we powered up our diamond-tipped saw blade and began cutting into the concrete blocks.
To make the removal process smoother, we carefully marked the blocks in numerical order, ensuring that we could easily replace them later. The angle grinder sliced through the concrete, revealing the hive that had been thriving there for years.
Removing the Bees from the Block Wall
Inside the block wall, we found four full frames of honey and brood, along with an extra frame that had drawn comb already in place. We carefully transferred these into one of our five-frame bee boxes.
Capturing the queen bee was a top priority, and once she was safely clipped, she was placed into the box to keep the colony together.
After transferring the bees, we used a smoker to calm the remaining bees and encourage them to move into their new home. To prevent future bee infestations in the wall, we filled the gaps with fiberglass insulation, making it an inhospitable space for any future hives.
Moving On to the Roof Hive
Next, we tackled the second hive located in the soffit of Jerry’s house. This job was more complex and required us to climb onto the roof, where we had to remove a dozen tiles, flashing, and tar paper. We then cut open a 3 ft by 2 ft section of the roof to access the hive.
Opening the Roof: A Colony Awaits
As soon as we opened the roof, the bees were there to greet us. Some of the honeycomb had fallen off the soffit and onto the hive below, but the bees were still hard at work. We carefully removed the comb from the wood and set it aside so the bees could clean it off.
Inside the soffit, we found enough comb to fill a ten-frame beehive—this was a massive colony! However, there was one major problem: the queen was nowhere to be found. Without the queen, the entire removal would be in jeopardy.
The Search for the Queen
We spent a significant amount of time searching for the missing queen but couldn’t locate her. It seemed she had either escaped or gone into hiding. We transferred the colony to a bee box, hoping that she might turn up later.
Jerry, concerned about his bees, asked us to check on a neighbor who had a recent bee problem. And that’s when things got really interesting.
A Surprising Discovery: The Missing Queen
When we arrived at Jerry's neighbor’s house, we were shown a small swarm that had arrived just two hours before we got there. After closer inspection, we found the missing queen bee! She had likely tried to flee the hive and had taken up residence in the neighbor's yard. Talk about a lucky break!
We immediately put her in a clip and reintroduced her to the ten-frame hive we had set up on Jerry's property. If she was indeed their queen, the bees would accept her back without issue. If not, they would attempt to kill her, so we had to wait a tense 48 hours to see what would happen.
A Happy Ending: The Queen Reunited with Her Colony
Luckily, after two days, the bees accepted the queen as their own, confirming that she belonged to the hive. With the queen safely back in place, the colony was officially saved!
The box stayed at Jerry's house during the transition period to ensure the bees would adapt to their new home.
Relocating the Bees to Their New Home
Once the bees were settled, we relocated them to our friend's Henderson apiary. This thriving colony will now live among the other bees we’ve rescued, enjoying the sunny Nevada climate and preparing for the upcoming winter.
Grateful for Kind Customers Like Jerry
Jerry and his wife were wonderful customers. They cared deeply about the bees and were adamant about saving them rather than exterminating the colonies. As a thank-you gesture, we left them with some fresh honeycomb to sample, straight from their own rescued bees.
Their generosity and compassion for the environment were heartwarming, and we were thrilled to be able to save not one but two colonies that day. We couldn’t ask for better clients than Jerry and his wife, and we’re confident their bees will thrive in their new home.
Why It Matters: The Importance of Humane Bee Removal
Safely relocating bees to an apiary, like we did for Jerry, helps maintain the health of honeybee populations, which are vital for pollination and the environment.
Every bee colony saved is a step toward ensuring the future of our food system and supporting biodiversity in places like Las Vegas.
A Successful Double Bee Removal
In the end, the day was long but incredibly rewarding. We were able to save two bee colonies, reunite a lost queen with her hive, and make sure that these bees have a safe place to call home.
Jerry's bees will now join others at the Henderson apiary, where they'll live out their days pollinating flowers, gathering nectar, and contributing to a healthy ecosystem.
Thanks again, Jerry, for choosing us to save your bees!
Betsy and Pete
Las Vegas, Nevada
About Us: The Authors
We're Betsy and Pete, passionate Las Vegas beekeepers trained by a master in the field. With hundreds of successful bee and bee swarm removals under our belts, we're not just experts; we're enthusiasts committed to the well-being of these incredible pollinators.
We manage dozens of beehives, both natural and honey-bearing at our Joshua Tree Preserve.
Our Commitment to Excellence
Education is an ongoing journey, especially in a dynamic field such as beekeeping. That's why we continually update our knowledge base, collaborate with other experts, and stay up to date with the latest advancements in bee control methods and beekeeping practices.
We also provide top-tier beekeeping supplies, offering everything a beekeeper needs, from beginners to experts.