808 BEE RESCUE & LIVE REMOVAL
SPECIALIZING IN LIVE BEEHIVE REMOVAL & RELOCATION ON OAHU
Live Removals - What To Expect
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Request a Free Site Inspection
Thank you for considering LIVE removal and relocation of the bees that you've discovered in your home or business. To get started, customers submit a Service Request Form which provides essential information to us so that we may better prepare for our phone conversation to follow. The more information that can be provided in the submission, the better. Our system allows for customers to upload photos with their submission, which is highly recommended as it enables us to better conceptualize the situation, making our followup conversation more meaningful and productive.
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Our Team Will Contact You
After we receive a service request, we review the information contained and reach out to schedule a free site inspection. We will never spam your email or phone so please ensure that the information submitted is accurate.
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Site Inspection
Due to the number of variables that can affect the removal process, in order to provide an accurate removal quote, we will visit your home or business to develop a custom removal plan. The approach to every removal is unique. We custom tailor our removal plan in the best interest of your home, family and the bees. Site Inspections are relatively quick, usually taking between 10-20 minutes. For structural removals, you will need to provide access to the exterior area where the bees are entering your home or business, as well as likely the interior area of that room too. In most instances, bees are removed from the interior room as we really dislike having to cut the exterior of homes. Drywall is a lot easier to repair than siding! However, we will always explain everything to homeowners and discuss all options and concerns. The site inspection visit is free of charge. If you decide not to have 808 Bee Rescue & LIVE Removal assist with your bee situation, there is no commitment or charges incurred from this visit.
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Estimate
Following the site inspection, we will review all of the data gathered and them email customers a detailed estimate for their review. There is a clickable button in the emailed estimate so customers can quickly approve the estimate, which, when clicked will inform us immediately that a customer has approved the estimate, after which we will contact you for scheduling.
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Removal Agreement Contract
One an estimate has been approved, we will send the customer a simple removal agreement contract to complete. It also has a short list of important questions. This should take no more than 3-5 minutes to read and complete and provides authorization to perform the work described in the estimate. We cannot proceed with the removal until the Removal Agreement is completed. It is web-based, however if a customer is unable to complete it online, we can bring a physical copy on the day of removal.
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Scheduling
Most customers want their bees removed ASAP, we get it. We will do our best to schedule removals for the next available time slot, which is usually within a week, although can be further out during busy months between April and September. We can accommodate weekend removal requests, if arranged. Swarm removals take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes on average and structural removals are scheduled as morning or afternoon removals and typically last 3-5 hours. A nighttime visit may also be needed on the removal day in some circumstances.
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Removal Day
The day prior to removal, we will reach out (usually via text) to reconfirm your removal appointment and advised of our anticipated arrival time. We provide an arrival window as being based on the windward side, traffic and other variables can affect our arrival time. Once onsite, we will coordinate access to the areas needed and setup our equipment. Once we begin a removal, we do not stop until phase 1 is complete.
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Removal - Phase 1
We arrange most structural (and some swarm) removals into two phases. Phase 1 is where the bulk of the removal work occurs. Once setup, and preparations are done, this is the time where we cut open the structure (e.g. drywall, siding, floor, etc.) to expose the beehive. Once exposed, we begin the process of cutting out the sections of comb, trimming them, and installing them into frames that will be placed into their new beehive home. Their brood (babies), food, and crucial nurse bees that care for the brood are carefully transferred into the new hive while the house bees and foragers are collected separately (for expediency) to be recombined later. As we progress through the removal, we are vigilantly looking for the Queen, so that we may capture her and keep her safe in a special holder clip. Once all of the comb and bees have been removed and transferred into the new hive, the area is cleaned of wax and propolis, and filled with insulation (typically, but not in all instances) and them closed back up. For most removals where drywall is cut to gain access to the hive, we will reinstall the drywall, tape the joints and apply one coat of joint compound to ensure compliance with fire code upon our completion. We do not perform finish (second coat of joint compound), texture or painting. At the end of Phase 1, we may leave temporarily.
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Removal - Phase 2
For most removals, once Phase 1 is complete, we will temporarily leave the site and return after it gets dark. During this time, foragers that were hard at work out and about during the removal will return to find their access to the hive has been sealed and closed off. We will leave the Queen and hive near their entrance and as it gets dark and they return home for the evening, they will get into the new hive. Only after it is completely dark will we remove the hive. It is secured and loaded into our vehicle for relocation. (Did you know that bees are always moved at night?). We must relocate the bees at least 3 miles away to one of our apiary locations (Ahuimanu, Laie and Kapa'a) to ensure that the foragers don't get confused and return to your home. Once relocated, we will manage and care for the colony, helping to fight off the Varroa Destructor mites as well as destructive Small Hive Beetles (SHB) and Wax Moths. Our work does not end when your removal ends, but your bee problem does. 🙂
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The Day After Removal
Each night a small amount of foragers don't make it back to their hive before it gets dark. Because they rely on the position of the Sun and visual reference cues in flight, they must wait out the night and return home the following morning. As such, the morning after a removal, a small amount of bees will appear (typically a few to several dozen--the larger the hive population, the greater number that will appear). These bees will be flighty on this first day following the removal as they are very confused. On the second day following the removal, these bees will form a small cluster and their flight activity will diminish drastically. They will disperse naturally over the coarse of one to two weeks and cannot establish a new hive, rest assured.
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Followup
Typically the day after the removal we will send you photos and video of your removal (from our view!) if you wish. You may also reach out with questions at anytime. We want our customers to feel comfortable, safe and assured that their bee situation is resolved.
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Invoice & Payment
Following the removal of your bees, you can pay in cash or check at the time of service, or, we can send you an invoice for payment via credit card. Payment is due within 14 days of completion of the removal.