Hello readers, welcome to our bee blog! If this is your first time stopping by, you probably have a colony of bees in or on the wall of your home. Maybe you just noticed them in an area you rarely walk by outside your house. Perhaps you just saw the swarm fly in and invade a vent into your home. Whatever the case, the first thing that probably crossed your mind was “How much is it going to cost to fix this problem?”
I get this question a lot when answering the phones here at Bee Best Bee Removal. “How much do you charge for a bee removal?” is usually how it is phrased. The problem with this question is that there isn’t enough information to answer the problem accurately.
So what do you need to know to get the cost?
Three main factors determine the cost of bee removal from a wall:
Are the bees on the interior or the exterior of the wall?
If you can see a cluster of bees or a hive, they are usually on the exterior. Let’s say you don’t see a large ball or any honeycomb on the exterior. Instead, you notice activity near a vent, a hole, or a crack in the wall. The bees seem to be going in and out of the wall.
If you only notice a few going in and out of the wall, there is likely a swarm or hive in the interior of the wall. So why does this matter? Removing a swarm or hive off of the exterior of a wall is almost always less expensive than if the bees are on the interior. Why? If you want to remove the bees alive, the wall needs to be opened to remove the queen and the rest of her colony. Obviously opening a wall and repairing it again is much more costly than removing the bees off the exterior.
How long have the bees been on or inside the wall?
When you handle the problem promptly, the cost of bee removal is usually always lower. The hive will become larger the longer you wait. The colony becomes more protective as the hive grows in size. Removing a swarm once it has built a fully functional hive becomes considerably more difficult. Waiting too long to address a bee infestation in your wall reduces the chance of a live removal and/or increases the expense.
What types of materials and structures are involved?
Are the bees 40 feet up on the 5th floor of a high rise? Can you walk right up to them without a ladder? If the structure needs to be opened, what types of materials will need to be opened? Is it a wood, stucco, or brick wall? Will it need to be opened from the drywall on the inside? All of these factors have an impact on the cost. The easier it is to get to the bees, the less costly it will be.
So what is the secret to keeping the cost of bee removal to a minimum? The best way is to prevent them from entering the structure by having your home bee-proofed. Bee proofing and bee exclusion work include screening off vents with 1/9 inch metal screen.
Another measure is to silicone holes and cracks on the wall before bees have a chance to invade. Be sure to take notice of any holes where cables, wire, or pipes enter the structure. Seal off any gaps that surround cables or pipes.
Call Calibugs (760)699-8540 or for more information visit Calibugs Termite & Pest Control.