In Milton, ON and in the surrounding areas of Campbellville and Moffat, bee activity around homes and properties increases greatly during the Spring and Summer months when colonies settle into any sheltered area that they can find. Common nesting sites throughout this region include chimneys, wall cavities, roof soffits and garden structures. In Guelph, ON, older residential properties may coexist with green corridors and agricultural land, leading to the rapid development of established colonies that may be hard to manage if not properly addressed. In each of these situations, pollinator-safe bee relocation is the correct approach; that is, the colony will be preserved, and it will be removed from the structure without extermination. There are three important things to understand when handling live colonies: bee behaviour, using protective equipment, and how to move colonies without causing them to spread or become aggressive.

Bee relocation work can vary greatly depending on where the colony has placed itself and how long it has been there. One of the more frequent requests throughout Milton, ON and Campbellville properties is for chimney bee removal, as older masonry chimneys offer warm, protected spaces that are great for bee swarms to nest early in the season. Wall beehive removal requires careful opening of the section of wall containing the beehive, removal of the active colony and extraction of the comb before closure of the structure. Honeycomb removal services are an integral component in this process, as the remaining comb can serve as an invitation for a new swarm and will lead to moisture and odour issues within the wall over time. In Guelph, ON, some properties may have outbuildings or a hobby farm setup; in such cases, an apiary bee transfer will be required for the careful relocation of managed or semi-managed colonies to an appropriate apiary location. Structural bee removal is used when colonies have established themselves in areas that are more difficult to access, such as floor voids, ceiling spaces and timber framing in older Moffat and Campbellville homes.

While removing a colony addresses the current issue, sealing the entry points to the hives is the solution that will prevent it from happening again the next season. Bees are very good at spotting gaps in exterior cladding, gaps in the mortar joints, weep holes and gaps around utility penetrations. After relocation, sealing will be performed with materials that are suitable for the surface and will prevent the bees from getting trapped inside the structure. Queen bee relocation is performed very carefully on all jobs completed, as the safety and movement of the queen determines the success or failure of the relocation or if it can return. Pollinator-safe practices are implemented in all removals and relocations across Milton, ON, Campbellville, Moffat, and Guelph ON to promote the health of local bee populations.

Safe and effective relocation begins with a proper assessment, whether the situation is an active colony inside a chimney in Milton, ON, a wall-bound colony in Campbellville ON or Moffat, ON or an established colony on a Guelph ON, property. Contact us today to schedule a visit and discover which solution is best for your property.