Many Las Vegas residents find themselves having to deal with bees in or around their property. It could be dangerous for you and your family, including your pets, to have a beehive so close to where you live or work. The thought of removing bees on your own can be stressful, but we have put together a guide that will help you to get rid of bees and prevent them from coming back.
NOTE: In most cases, it’s best to have a professional bee removal service or bee exterminator do the job. However, if you are determined and a steadfast DIY person, these steps will help you safely remove bees and hives.
Step 1: Determine Where the Hive Is Located
First, you’ll need to locate the hive and evaluate whether it is easily accessible. Some hives are simply hanging from a tree branch, roof, awning, or doorway. Other times, the hive could be located within a wall, crawl space, or shed and much harder to reach.
Determining where the hive is located and how you will reach it to remove the bees is something to consider. Strategize around the location of the hive and the best way to approach it.
Step 2: Buy the Right Equipment
The next thing you want to think about is protecting yourself. You will need protective gloves and headgear, and possibly even a full bee suit to remove a hive. If you are not sure of the species of bee, or if there is potential that they are Africanized honeybees or killer bees, extra caution should be taken.
You’ll want to invest in real beekeeper protective gear and suit. Anything that is not designed specifically to protect a person from bees will most likely be insufficient, and you run the risk of bee stings.
Also, if this is a one-time event, the cost for these supplies can become expensive. Consider calling a bee removal specialist or pest control company in Las Vegas for a free evaluation and estimate. It could be more cost-effective to hire an exterminator for the job.
Step 3: Obtain the Best Pesticides for Bee Removal
You will also need to have the right type of pesticides to treat the hive and the right equipment to get the pesticides where the hive is located. It is imperative that you get the pesticides onto the hive and honeycomb itself to kill the queen. Otherwise, your efforts to remove the bees will be unsuccessful.
Pesticides for bees can help to get rid of bees because they target the bees nervous system. It will cause immediate paralysis and eventually kill bees that have been in contact. However, these bee pesticides can be highly toxic and may harm humans and other animals if improperly handled. You should carefully read the MSDS and label for each pesticide and follow all the directions. Position yourself at the right distance from the hive before you start treating.
Step 4: Choose the Right Time for the Removal
Bees sleep in the evening and early morning hours. This is the best time to approach a hive because they will be the least active. You also know the majority of bees are around the hive location, so you have a chance to affect the most amount of bees during these times.
Trying to remove a hive at any other time during the day can be dangerous because worker and scout bees are continually entering and exiting the hive. The chances of being stung or triggering an attack are higher when bees are actively working and feel threatened. Plan out a time that works best, and make sure your family and pets are far away from the site before you start treating the area.
Step 5: Follow Up the Next Day
Bee removal is at least a 2-day job. Once you have treated the hive, you should not go near the area for at least 24 hours. The bees will be disoriented and prone to attack while they are being affected by the pesticides. Keep your distance for a day and return after the pesticides have had a chance to take full effect.
If the pesticides were applied properly, most of the bee population should have died from the pesticides or have left the hive. You will notice the dead bees on the ground or floor and no more bees flying in and out of the hive. Be careful, even though the bees are dead, if you contact the stinger you will still get stung.
Step 6: Dispose of the Hive and Honeycomb
Once you notice there is no bee activity, if it is a hanging hive, you can remove the hive and honeycomb and dispose of it when all the bees are gone. Once the hive and honeycomb have been treated, the honey and the honeycomb are contaminated and NOT fit for consumption. These items are tainted with the pesticides you placed on the hive and honeycomb.
Do not handle the honey without protective gear or consume any of it. Also, make sure that it is disposed of properly so children or animals cannot access the hive.
Step 7: Repair and Declutter Your Property
There is a reason the bees were attracted to your home or business. Once the hive is removed, do your best to clean the area, remove clutter, trim overgrown bushes and foliage, and avoid standing water or decaying vegetation. If the bees were able to access your property, check for obvious entry points and patch any holes or cracks you see.
Just remember, once the hive and honeycomb has been removed, especially ones burrowed into your home walls, take the necessary steps to prevent them from coming back. After an area has been inhabited by a hive of bees, other bees will find it desirable and try to build their own if they can. Preventative bee control is an essential piece of the puzzle.
Contact a Las Vegas Bee Removal Specialist
Overall, it is possible to remove a hive from your property yourself, but it can be very expensive and dangerous. It is almost always in your best interest to consider calling a professional. If you are concerned about a swarm of bees or beehive, contact the bee and wasp removal team at Fischer’s Pest Control to learn more about bee removal in Las Vegas!
We offer bee and beehive removal services and can do a full evaluation of your property. We’ll determine the type of bees you have (Africanized honey bees, carpenter bees, yellow jackets, etc.) and strategize a safe removal plan that will be the least disruptive to your home and life.