Every spring and summer, phones ring across Alachua County with the same question: "There are bees on my property, what do I do?" Whether you've spotted a swarm hanging from a tree branch, heard a buzzing inside your wall, or found bees moving into an old shed, the situation can feel alarming. The good news: in most cases, the bees are not dangerous, and humane removal is very possible.

At Thy Will Bee Done Apiary we provide live bee removal services throughout the High Springs, Gainesville, and broader Alachua County area. As working beekeepers, we don't exterminate, we relocate, giving every colony a second chance at our apiary where they can continue pollinating North Florida's wildflowers and producing honey.

Swarms vs. Established Colonies, Know the Difference

A swarm is a cluster of bees, sometimes just a few hundred, sometimes tens of thousands, that has temporarily stopped to rest while scout bees search for a new home. Swarms typically gather on tree branches, fence posts, porch railings, or even vehicles. They are usually docile because they have no home or honey to defend. Most swarms move on within 24–72 hours on their own, but if they've chosen an inconvenient spot, we can come collect them.

An established colony is a different situation. If bees have moved into a wall void, attic, soffit, or tree cavity and been there for more than a few days, they've likely begun building comb and storing honey. These colonies are more committed to their location and require a more involved removal, what beekeepers call a "cutout." This involves opening the structure, removing all the comb and bees, and relocating the entire colony. Done right, it's permanent. Done wrong (or just treated with pesticide), you often end up with a worse problem as the abandoned honey melts inside your walls and attracts pests.

What NOT to Do

The most important thing: don't spray them. Pesticides make bees more aggressive in the short term and can make humane removal impossible. They also don't solve a wall colony problem, the dead bees, comb, and honey remain inside your structure and create a bigger mess. Similarly, sealing entry points without removing the colony just traps bees inside, and they will find another way out, often into your living space.

Keep people and pets away from the area, close any windows or doors nearby, and give us a call.

Our Service Area in North Central Florida

We serve a wide area throughout Alachua County and surrounding counties, including:

  • High Springs
  • Gainesville
  • Alachua
  • Newberry
  • Archer
  • Micanopy
  • Waldo
  • Hawthorne
  • Chiefland (Levy County)
  • Lake City (Columbia County)
  • Live Oak (Suwannee County)
  • Trenton (Gilchrist County)
  • Bronson (Levy County)

Not sure if we cover your area? Just call or text us and we'll let you know.

Contact Us

Call or text (386) 266-3128 or email honeybee@thywillbeedone.com. We respond quickly and can usually give you a quote over the phone after a few questions and photos. Learn more about our bee removal services here.