A swarm is one of the most fascinating—and misunderstood—events in the life of a bee colony. When a hive becomes too crowded, usually in the spring or early summer, the bees prepare to divide. The original queen leaves with thousands of worker bees to form a new colony, while a new queen takes over the old hive. You might spot a swarm as a large ball of bees calmly resting on a branch, fence post, or mailbox while they search for a new home. Though it may look intimidating, swarming bees are typically very docile during this time—they're focused on relocating, not defending a hive. At Beekind, we encourage awareness and understanding: swarms are a natural, essential part of bee life and not a cause for alarm.

This is a lovely swarm that left one of Doug's hives during a family BBQ and we were able to film it landing on a nearby bush. This is how a swarm looks while it is forming.

Please DON'T Spray Swarms. Call your local Fire Department for the contact information of a local beekeeper who can safely take them to a new home. To report a swarm in Northern California, see our Regional Swarm Lists below. Thank you!