Let's Talk Bees (with your local beekeeper!): Swarm Season

Honey bees are essential pollinators for a wide range of plants, and understanding their natural cycles can help us better protect them. Each spring, as part of the colony's reproductive cycle, honey bees leave the colony in what we call a swarm. The swarm temporarily gathers on trees, bushes, and buildings or other structures while searching for a new home. While swarms are a normal and healthy phenomenon, a large mass of bees can cause concern when they appear near homes or public spaces. Contacting local beekeepers through beekeeping associations or websites such as beeswarmed.org increases swarm survival rates and reduces unnecessary calls to emergency services.

Come learn about the life cycle of the honey bee, try finding the queen in a portable observation hive, and ask questions of a local beekeeper!