Bee Relocation vs. Bee Extermination: How to Choose

When honey bees move onto your property, you have two options: relocate the colony alive, or have the bees exterminated. In most cases we recommend live bee relocation. Here is why, and when bee extermination is the better choice.

Why bees matter in South Florida

Honey bees pollinate flowers, fruit trees and crops across South Florida. Relocating a colony keeps those bees working instead of killing them.

Most honey bees only sting when threatened

Fear of stings is the main reason people ask for bee extermination. Most honey bees sting only when they feel their hive is threatened. Handled properly, with the right gear and a bee vacuum, a colony can usually be moved without harm to anyone.

Why removing the hive matters more than killing the bees

Killing the bees doesn’t solve the problem by itself. If the comb stays in a wall or soffit, the honey and wax can attract pests and draw in a new swarm. Whichever option you pick, the comb has to come out and the entry point has to be sealed.

How live relocation works

With live honey bee removal, we collect the bees into a hive box, cut out the comb, and move the colony to a new home where it can keep pollinating.

When bee extermination makes sense

Sometimes relocation isn’t practical, for example when a colony is very defensive or in a spot where it can’t be removed alive. In those cases we explain our bee extermination service first, and we still take out the comb and seal the area.

Not sure which you need?

We’ll look at the hive and tell you which option fits during a free estimate.

Have bees in a similar spot? Call Miami Bee Removal at 786-554-0245 for a free estimate. We serve Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.