Sweet Grown Alabama Blogs

You love local honey, but bees swarming your house isn’t your idea of farm to table. These industrious insects, essential for pollination and the production of honey, play a vital role in our ecosystem. However, having them as uninvited guests in your home is not ideal. Rather than reaching for insecticides or trying to handle the situation yourself, consider enlisting the help of a local beekeeper. Using local beekeepers is the best choice for both you and the bees. 

Honeybees are crucial for pollinating a wide variety of crops and wild plants. Unfortunately, their populations have been declining due to habitat loss, diseases and external factors. By contacting a local beekeeper, you’re ensuring the safe relocation of the bees, helping to preserve this beautiful species. Most beekeepers will transport the bees to a safe location where they can continue their work of pollination and honey production.

Richard Woodham, Master Beekeeper and Owner of Fruit of the Comb in Enterprise highlighted the significance of honey bees to other farmers in Alabama. 

"Bees are a vital part of our ecosystem. They pollinate our local fruits, nuts and vegetable crops," said Woodham. "It is our duty to relocate bees to a safe place where they can keep pollinating and producing honey to sustain our future."

Photo by Eng Land Honey

Call upon expertise you can trust. Beekeepers have extensive experience and knowledge about honeybee behavior. They understand how to handle bees safely and effectively, reducing the risk of stings or further property damage. Professional beekeepers use specialized tools and techniques to carefully extract bees and their hives, even from hard-to-reach places like walls, roofs or attics.

Hiring a local beekeeper is often more affordable than calling a pest control service. Many beekeepers provide removal services at a low cost or even for free, as they value the opportunity to collect new bees for their apiaries. Some may charge a fee depending on the complexity of the job, but it’s generally less expensive than extermination services and subsequent repairs.

Photo by Southern Sweet Bee

Sweet Grown Alabama member Foxhound Bee Company even has a list on their website dedicated to matching you with a beekeeper who will help remove bees. Find that list here.

“If done right, catching swarms and doing cutouts (removals from buildings) can be a win-win,” said Adam Hickman Owner of Foxhound Bee Company in Birmingham. “The beekeeper can get new bees as well as the genetics to go with them, and the homeowner gets unwanted bees removed. The honey production and pollination are just the icing on the cake.”

By working with local beekeepers, you’re directly supporting your community’s agriculture. Beekeepers often use relocated bees to produce honey and pollinate crops in the area. Your decision to call a beekeeper helps sustain local food production and strengthens the local economy. 

Photo by Andrews Double A Ranch Wildly Blessed

Trey Ingram, owner of Three’s Bees in Troy, stresses the importance of bees to the health of ecosystems and local food production. 

“A beekeeper will do their best to carefully remove and relocate the hive rather than destroy it, ensuring the survival of the colony,” Ingram said.

The next time you hear the buzz of a hive, remember that a local beekeeper can turn a potential problem into a win for both you and the environment.

Finding a local beekeeper is easier than you might think! Visit Sweet Grown Alabama to find local honey in your area and befriend a beekeeper today.