"How I Remove Beehives From the Walls of Houses"
This article provides insights into the experiences of Jon McAdoo, a beekeeper specializing in removing beehives from the walls of houses. McAdoo discusses the common occurrence of beehives hidden in house walls and offers a glimpse into the process of safely relocating bees while preserving their role in pollination. The interview has been edited for clarity.
Jon McAdoo mentions that they handle around 10 to 15 honeybee removals annually, with most of them involving beehives within house walls. He explains that houses often have gaps that attract bees, particularly if they have not been properly repaired after wasps or yellow jackets created nests. The hives can start small and grow unnoticed until buzzing noises or visible activity draw attention. In a productive year, a hive can reach significant numbers, with cases of 60,000 to 80,000 bees.
His journey into beekeeping and hive removal began when a neighbor sought assistance, and their reputation grew through word-of-mouth. He emphasizes the importance of saving the hives due to bees' critical role in ecology and food production. Bees' pollination work is essential, and they are generally not aggressive if left undisturbed.
McAdoo describes the hive removal process. He and his wife work together, starting by setting up a plastic tent to limit the bee's escape area. They then cut open the wall near the hive and use a special vacuum to collect some bees without harming them. The majority of bees remain on the honeycomb, and the removal process is relatively calm if done correctly. The bees are placed into frames inside beehive boxes. He notes that the hive's outer section contains extra honeycomb, which is collected for honey.
Working with bees fills the air with a pleasant wax-and-honey smell. However, during more challenging hive removals, stressed bees can produce unique smells. Hive removals can vary in difficulty, depending on the hive's location and the bees' temperament, associated with the queen's traits.
McAdoo mentions that each hive has its personality, often attributed to the queen's traits. Some hives can be more aggressive or calm, organized, or scattered. He finds himself talking to the bees during removals, asking them to relax or move out of the way.
The article concludes that a typical removal yields one to two boxes of honeycomb. The bees are relocated to an outdoor spot, and extra bees from the vacuum are placed on top of the hive, leading to initial chaos that settles in a relatively short time.
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