Honey Bee Hive Extraction - From Inside an Oak Tree

by Leslie
(San Rafael, CA)

Hi, We have a honey bee hive inside our massive oak tree, and unfortunately it needs to be removed because there are many many children in the yard. I talked to a local bee expert who recommended the one-way entrance extraction method, but he said it might not be a good idea if there are kids present because the bees will be more likely to sting. He said we may have to chop down the tree (which we cannot do) or exterminate the hive (which I feel equally as strongly about not doing). Help! Thanks, Leslie

Hi Leslie

So what you're saying is that there are three options,

1. trap-out the bees.

2. Cut down the tree.

3. Exterminate the hive.

However none of them is acceptable, so can I come up with another idea? You could move house, get rid of the kids, or teach them it's okay to get stung occasionally. I have a feeling you won't like any of those solutions either.

Cutting the tree open in an attempt to remove the colony alive would be very tricky and the colony might well not survive anyway, so the tree would have been sacrificed for nothing.

So let me answer it this way. If it was my tree I would probably attempt the trap-out since the initial stage when the bees were more likely to be aggressive would only be temporary.

The biggest problem with doing a trap-out in a situation like this, is that if the tree has a hollow inside and cracks and holes for the bees to access the hollow, preventing the bees from re-entering their hive might be extremely difficult. It will require someone to be vigilant and watch to see that the bees are accumulating round the cone in the evening before they venture into the box provided. If they're not, it will mean there is another way inside which needs to be plugged. Even if all holes are plugged at the first attempt it might well take 6 - 8 weeks to complete the task. I hope you're paying the beekeeper well!

If the bees are not especially aggressive and a box with a very small colony, including a queen, is placed near the trap, I think the risk of the neighborhood being terrorized by angry bees is small.

You should also accept that if it does become a problem you might keep a large spray container of soapy water handy to deliver the coupe de grâce if things get too crazy.

Make sure, once it's all over, that the hole inside the tree is filled with expanding foam so that you won't get another swarm inside. Filling the space is much more effective than trying to plug all the holes.

Let me know how it goes!

The Bee Guy