What to Do If You Find Bees on Your South Florida Property

Discovering bees around your home or business can be concerning, especially when you cannot tell whether they are simply passing through or building a hive inside the property. You might notice a cluster hanging from a tree, bees gathering near your roofline, or steady activity around a small opening in a wall or soffit.

Knowing what to do if you find bees on your property can help protect your family, pets, customers, and building. The most important steps are to keep your distance, avoid disturbing the bees, and contact a qualified bee-removal professional to evaluate the situation.

Keep People and Pets Away From the Area

Your first priority should be keeping everyone a safe distance from the bees. Bring children and pets indoors and let visitors, employees, landscapers, and maintenance workers know which area to avoid.

Do not stand beneath a swarm or block the path bees are using to enter and exit a structure. Even when bees appear calm, they may become defensive if they or their nesting area are disturbed.

If someone is stung and experiences difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, dizziness, or another severe reaction, call 911 immediately.

Do Not Spray or Disturb the Bees

Avoid spraying the bees with water, household chemicals, or store-bought insecticides. Do not throw objects at them, attempt to knock down the swarm, or use loud equipment near the area.

These actions can agitate the bees and increase the risk of stings. Spraying the visible bees may also fail to resolve the problem if an established colony is hidden inside a wall, attic, roofline, or another protected space.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services advises property owners not to attempt to remove or eradicate a nuisance honey bee colony without the proper equipment and training.

Is It a Bee Swarm or an Established Colony?

Determining whether you have a temporary swarm or an established colony can help explain what is happening on your property.

What Does a Bee Swarm Look Like?

A bee swarm is a group of bees traveling together while searching for a suitable place to establish a new colony. Swarms often appear as a large cluster hanging from a tree branch, fence, mailbox, soffit, exterior wall, or another object.

A swarm may remain in one location for several hours or a few days. The bees do not yet have honeycomb or a permanent nest to defend, so they may appear relatively calm. However, you should still keep your distance and avoid attempting to remove them yourself.

Although a swarm may leave on its own, it could also move into a nearby wall, attic, chimney, shed, or roofline. Scheduling professional bee swarm removal can help prevent the bees from establishing a colony inside your property.

Signs of an Established Bee Colony

An established colony contains bees, honeycomb, stored honey, pollen, and developing bees. These colonies are commonly found inside wall cavities, attics, soffits, rooflines, chimneys, hollow trees, sheds, and utility boxes.

One of the most noticeable signs is consistent “bee traffic.” Instead of seeing a stationary cluster, you may observe bees repeatedly entering and exiting the same crack, hole, vent, or structural opening throughout the day.

Other possible signs include buzzing inside a wall or ceiling, bees appearing indoors, or honey and staining near the nesting area. An established colony may defend its hive when disturbed and should be evaluated by an experienced professional.

Never Seal an Opening While Bees Are Active

Sealing the hole bees are using may seem like a quick solution, but it can create a larger problem. If bees are trapped inside a wall, attic, or roofline, they may search for another exit and move farther into the building.

Closing the entrance also does not remove the bees, honeycomb, honey, brood, or other hive material inside the structure. The colony should be properly addressed before openings are repaired or sealed.

Common Places Bees Build Hives in Florida

Florida’s warm climate and abundant vegetation allow bee activity to occur throughout much of the year. Bees searching for a protected nesting space may take advantage of surprisingly small openings around a home or commercial building.

Some of the most common nesting locations include:

• Wall cavities
• Attics and attic vents
• Rooflines and soffits
• Chimneys
• Hollow trees and tree branches
• Sheds and detached garages
• Utility and water-meter boxes
• Openings around pipes, wiring, and exterior fixtures

You do not need to locate the entire hive yourself. From a safe distance, note where the greatest amount of activity is occurring and share that information with the bee-removal company.

Why Complete Bee and Hive Removal Matters

Addressing only the visible bees may not resolve an established infestation. If honeycomb and hive material are left behind, they can potentially create odors, staining, melting honey, or attraction for ants and other unwanted pests.

An untreated structural opening can also allow future swarms to enter the same space. Depending on the hive’s location, complete removal may require access to part of a wall, ceiling, soffit, roof, or another construction area.

A professional inspection can help determine where the colony is located, how established it has become, and which removal approach is appropriate for the property.

When Should You Call a Bee-Removal Professional?

Contact a professional if you notice a large cluster of bees, consistent activity around a structural opening, buzzing inside a wall or ceiling, or bees appearing indoors. You should also seek assistance when the bees are near a doorway, walkway, pool, playground, pet area, or another frequently occupied location.

Even if the bees currently appear calm, waiting could give a swarm time to establish a permanent colony. Addressing the activity early may prevent the infestation from growing or moving deeper into a difficult-to-access part of the structure.

Professional Bee Removal in South Florida

Alpine Farms Bee Removal provides trusted and effective bee removal for homes, businesses, and other properties throughout South Florida and the Treasure Coast. Our experienced team handles bee swarms and established colonies in walls, attics, roofs, soffits, chimneys, trees, sheds, and other areas.

Family-owned, veteran-owned, licensed and insured, Alpine Farms Bee Removal has served Florida property owners since 1965. Our owner is also a registered Florida beekeeper, and our team has the experience needed to evaluate each situation and recommend an appropriate solution.

If you find bees on your property, keep people and pets away and let an experienced professional handle the situation.

Call Alpine Farms Bee Removal at (772) 286-3850 or contact us online to request service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a bee swarm leave on its own?

A swarm may leave within several hours or a few days, but it could also move into a nearby wall, attic, roofline, chimney, or tree. Contacting a professional can help prevent the swarm from establishing a colony on your property.

Should I spray bees on my property?

No. Spraying or disturbing bees can cause them to become defensive and may not eliminate a colony hidden inside a structure. Keep your distance and contact a qualified bee-removal professional.

Can I seal the opening the bees are using?

Do not seal an opening while bees are actively entering and exiting it. Trapped bees may search for another exit and potentially enter occupied areas. The colony should be addressed before the opening is properly sealed.