Swarm Catching in Treasure Valley
Boise, Caldwell, Eagle, Emmett, Garden City, Kuna, Meridian, Middleton, Nampa, and beyond!
If you see a cluster of bees, I would love to come pick them up! Contrary to what some people say, bee swarms do not need to be captured, rescued, or saved. A bee swarm is a temporary grouping of bees that is in transition between their previous home and a new home (tree, barrel, wall, etc). Most swarms are very docile and they will find their new home and leave within a couple of days.
At Grandad Farms, I’m breeding colonies that are free of chemical and organic treatments to foster genetics that are better acclimated to this area and more resilient to pests and diseases. Some swarms come from feral hives that carry these wonderful genetics, and it's exciting to add swarms from the area to my treatment-free apiary.
If you see a swarm, please call or text me at (208) 207-4292. Interested in seeing my apiary? I’d love to show you my wool-insulated hives, and maybe we could do a hive inspection together!
Thank you for your time!
- Mark
I set traps too - one of my swarm traps with a swarm on top.
Raw honey from our treatment-free apiary, listed here.
FAQ
What is a bee swarm? A swarm is a temporary cluster of bees that is looking for a permanent home.
When is swarming season? Swarming season is April to September in our area, with peak activity being from April to June.
Are swarms dangerous? It is rare for the bees in a swarm cluster to act aggressive. They are focused on finding a new home and are usually filled up with stores from the previous hive.
How long will a swarm stay? A swarm will stay for a few hours, up to a few days. In my experience, they usually leave within 24 hours.
Honeybee Swarm Identification Reference Photos
Treatment-Free Beekeeping Resources
The Treatment-Free Beekeeping Podcast by Solomon Parker
HorizontalHive.com by Leo Sharashkin
BushFarms.com by Michael Bush
Keeping Bees with a Smile by Fedor Lazutin
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Beekeeping by Stiglitz and Herboldsheimer
​
Grandad Farms' foundational treatment-free principles:
-
No treatments, organic or non-organic
-
Mimic God's design in nature by providing a well-insulated hive
-
Foundationless frames (most have plastic that's coated in wax that contains a buildup of chemical treatments
-
No migrating out of the local climate​
My favorite hive is the insulated Layens hive, shown before. Free plans are available at horizontalhive.com.
If you would like to purchase an assembled hive, built at Grandad Farms, please visit the link below.
