Between April and June is the time of year when many people find swarms of bees around their yards.
There are a few things you should do when you encounter a swarm of honeybees:

1. DON'T PANIC - when honeybees are swarming they are generally very docile and will rarely show aggressive tendencies. They will merely find a suitable spot to gather, as a temporary measure, while they send out scouts to find a more permanent hive which will serve as a new home. When bees swarm, they tend to gather in a tigh ball and will form in a temporary spot; it could be in a tree/bush, on a clothesline, a fence, a bicycle, anywhere that they can land to form a cluster.

2. MAKE A MENTAL NOTE - of where they are (would a ladder be needed to get at them?) Also, guage the rough size of the swarm (tennis ball, football etc), and try to estimate how long it has been in this spot.

Then armed with this information.................

3. TELEPHONE the Norfolk County Beekeepers Association Swarm contact person for your area. If you click on the list of towns below you will find a list of contact people in your area. If you do not find your town you can call any one on the list or George Comeau at 781.706.8441 and he will attempt to have a beekeeper come and pick up the swarm. In some cases a beekeeper may not be available to pick up the swarm, nevertheless the swarm will move on within a day or two and generally will pose no threat.

4. AT A SAFE DISTANCE - Sit back, watch, take some pictures and wait for the beekeeper to arrive. Any beekeeper will tell you that there is something very magical about a swarm. There is an electric feeling in the air, as the bees swirl round before clustering in a ball. Watching a swarm hived is an experience that you will never forget.

5. TELL OTHERS of your experience. All too often, bees get very bad press. Mix the word "Bees" with "Killer" and all of a sudden you have horror film that will perform very well at the box office. You will by now know differently off course, as you will have seen at first hand just how docile and truely magical these little insects can be. Let us know if you are involved with a swarm. We would like to hear your expereince

The Norfolk County Beekeepers Association will attempt to help with swarms in the following communities and beyond: MASTER CALL LIST FOR SWARMS

If you do not see your town listed here, contact anyone on the call list.
They will be glad to help or direct you to the correct person.
We also welcome members from areas outside Norfolk County, and beyond Massachusetts.