Sonoma County Beekeepers Association

One of our amazing Beekeepers and Swarm Rescuers, rescuing a swarm at Sonoma Raceway.

Swarms are natures way of splitting one colony into two. When we move into spring, and resources become abundant, colonies will grow and soon will outgrow the space they live in.

When that happens, approximately half the colony, with the queen, will leave to establish a new hive somewhere else. The queen does not fly well, and they have to take many stops and rest along their journey to find their new home. These breaks in their journey provide opportunities for our swarm rescuers to capture and relocate them to a hive ready and waiting for them.

Approximately 20% of swarms survive the swarming process and their first. SCBA's Swarm Rescue program increases that swarms chances of survival and decreases the chances of it establishing a home in an inappropriate location (we received 3 calls yesterday along of a new colony is the side of a wall)

If you see a swarm, go to our website www.sonomabees.org and click "report a swarm" to find a swarm rescuer near you.