Honey Bee Relocation in St. Lucie & Martin County
Every colony we take ends up somewhere it can keep working: an apiary, a grove, a farm.
Honey bee relocation is the final step of a live removal: moving a rescued colony, with its queen and brood, from your property to an apiary where it can be managed safely. It's how a problem colony on your house becomes a productive colony in an orange grove or wildflower field.
Why Relocation Matters Here
Florida agriculture leans on honey bees. Citrus, watermelon, blueberries and vegetable crops across the state all benefit from pollination, and Florida is consistently one of the country's top honey-producing states. A feral colony that's strong enough to build in your wall is usually a vigorous, locally adapted colony. Killing it throws that away.
Relocation also matters to you: a colony that's been properly moved is gone. It's not in a box at the edge of your yard, and it's not coming back.
What Happens to a Relocated Colony
- It's moved in a ventilated hive box, usually the same day as the removal.
- It's given time to settle, with its brood framed and its queen in place.
- It's checked for health and temperament once it's established.
- Calm, healthy colonies go to beekeepers and working yards away from homes and schools.
- Defensive colonies are managed accordingly, not released near people.
Our guide to where rescued bees go walks through it in more detail.
Want your bees relocated, not killed?Call now or text a photo for a quick price.
Can You Relocate a Colony Without Removing It?
Not from inside a structure. Bees don't leave a cavity full of brood and honey because they're asked to. Relocation starts with live removal or, for a hanging cluster, swarm collection. Those are the ways bees get into the box.
From Your Property to an Apiary
- Collect the colony. Swarm collection or live cut-out, depending on where the bees are.
- Secure the queen and brood. The queen is the colony. Brood comb gives it a head start in its new home.
- Transport. Ventilated boxes, strapped and shaded. Treasure Coast heat is no joke for a closed box.
- Settle and assess. The colony settles, then we check health and temperament.
- Place it. The colony goes to a beekeeper's yard or apiary suited to it.
Cost
Relocation isn't billed separately. It's included in every live removal and swarm collection we do. What you pay for is getting the bees out; getting them to a good home is part of how we work. For typical ranges across every job type, see what bee removal costs on the Treasure Coast.
Honey Bee Relocation Near You
Available throughout St. Lucie County and Martin County, including:
Questions About Honey Bee Relocation
If you want to become a beekeeper, possibly, and we can point you in the right direction. Florida requires beekeepers to register their colonies with the state, and a colony near a house needs proper management.
Far enough that they won't find their way back. Bees relocated only a short distance can return to the old spot, which is why we move them properly.
Defensive colonies are still removed alive, but they aren't placed where they could bother people. They're managed by experienced beekeepers, often by replacing the queen.
No. Relocation is for honey bees. We can tell you what you're dealing with if you're not sure.
Ready to get rid of the bees?Live person 24/7. Free quote, no obligation.