The Tulsa Bee Swarm Hotline is a volunteer run service that focuses on the rescue of honeybees in Northeast Oklahoma. We have many volunteer beekeepers ready to deploy 7 days a week to rescue and relocate bee swarms. Bees will be relocated to an apiary (bee yard) where they will be provided an appropriate home and cared for properly. If you see a bee swarm hanging on a tree, bush, fence, mailbox, etc - call our hotline immediately 918-981-BEES (2337)
Our beekeeping community has members all over Northeast Oklahoma with many members located in the greater Tulsa Metro area. We handle many bee swarms in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Jenks, Owasso, Glenpool, Claremore, Catoosa, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Liberty, Mounds & Coweta. We know many beekeepers all over the area and will gladly refer your call to the appropriate beekeeper.
Hanging from a rosebush
This bee swarm exited from a nearby bee hive inside the trunk of a tree in north Tulsa. The couple that called was very concerned the bees would no longer be living in the tree. They had enjoyed watching the bees come and go from the bee tree. The bee tree was safe and these bees were just a portion of the original colony.
Hanging from a tree limb
This large bee swarm in Broken Arrow was hanging from a smaller tree limb. We see many swarms like this all over the area in the March, April, May timeframe. We have multiple apiaries in Broken Arrow that we house our rescued bee swarms in. In 2017 we handled over 100 rescue calls for bees. Many local beekeepers participated in these rescues.
Hanging from a tree limb
This large bee swarm was located outside a home near Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa. The swarm had come from a nearby hive in the trunk of a tree. A bee swarm is the natural process of a colony of bees splitting itself once it has grown too large for it's existing home. The old queen leaves the hive with 40-60% of the bees to establish a new home.
Placed on a swarm catch box
Once the bees leave their original home, they settle on a nearby tree limb, bush, mailbox or other stationary location. From there they send scout bees out to find a new home. This is the natural process of the bees spreading their genetics and reproducing. On a swarm catch call it is our mission to provide them a new home that meets their needs.
On a child's wagon
This was a large bee swarm on a child's wagon in Glenpool. The children watched this rescue from the front porch of their home. Bee swarms are usually quite docile if left alone and treated with respect.
Hanging on a small wisteria bush
Bee Swarms often go unnoticed. They are usually quiet and docile unless on the move. Their arrival and departure is an awesome sight to witness. When 20,000 bees are in the air the buzzing sound is incredible!
With help from Tulsa Fire Department
Easter Sunday on a fence panel
This bee swarm was one of the first bee swarm captures we made after establishing our bee rescue mission. This one was low an easy to reach on the side of a wooden fence. I sure wish all swarms were this easy to rescue.