When estimating bee hive removal costs, there are a wide variety of factors to consider. The number and species of insect, the size and location of the hive, and even the weather and time of year must all be considered when removing a bee hive. A newly-arrive swarm of honeybees on a tree may be quickly and easily collected by a beekeeper, while a well-established hive of wasps in a wall may require a significant investment of time and labor to remove safely. Some brave homeowners try to avoid bee hive removal costs by tackling the project themselves, but this can be both dangerous and ineffective. Expert attention is often required to safely and completely remove a hive and prevent other insects from colonizing the same location in the future.
A bee hive removal specialist will need to identify what type of bee they are working with before estimating the cost of removal. Experienced beekeepers are often looking for new honeybee colonies, while wasp hives have no value and are often difficult and dangerous to remove. Some types of wasps are extremely aggressive. Africanized or “killer” bees can also be dangerous to work with, and some specialists will not work with this type of hive. Because so many types of bees and wasps are territorial, homeowners should avoid approaching a hive too closely while trying to identify the species. Children, the elderly, and those who have or may have allergies should take particular care to avoid be hives. When in doubt, it is best to let an experienced professional identify the bees.
The location of a bee hive can significantly affect the cost of removal. A honeybee hive can weigh nearly 100 lbs. and cause significant structural damage inside the wall or ceiling of a building. Removing a hive effectively requires far more time and labor than simply spraying the insects with pesticides. To prevent the bees from returning, all traces of the hive must be removed, the area needs to be thoroughly cleaned, and future access must be prevented. Removing a hive inside a wall often involves cutting the wall open and removing the combs or hive structures completely, and then repairing the damage to the wall. Some bee removal experts include the cost of these repairs in their estimates; others prefer homeowners to hire a licensed contractor to complete the repairs after removal. When the cost of structural repairs is included with the cost of the hive removal, the estimate will be significantly higher.
Comments are closed.