Troubled by a hive of wasps, yellow jackets, or honey bees?

Bee Friendly Honey offers a physical hive removal service! Steve is fully licensed and bonded, and we are entirely pesticide free. We offer a sustainable and ecologically sound way to remove pests from unwanted places: hives of removed honey bees are relocated to our apiaries that are located in the Bay Area and the foothills of the Sierras, primarily Angel's Camp and Murphys.

Hives are always removed completely: we never spray and leave the hive as is, as decaying hives and their inhabitants can attract rodents and ants who go after the honey or the larvae. Simply plugging up a hole in the wall in front of the hive will do little good---insects are crafty, and can find alternative ways into your living space!

If you’re dealing with a hive, give us a call! We are local and community focused, NOT a large pest control company! We care about the quality of services provided, and are happy to answer any questions you might have. We can usually schedule you within the week that you call. Details on each type of hive removal are below---call us for a price estimate, or with any questions! 

Paper Wasps 

Paper wasps create an umbrella shaped nest out of paper with cells in the bottom, that usually range in size from a half dollar to a small dinner plate (about 1 inch to 8 inches). There are usually about 15-25 wasps per nest, and they are characterized by long skinny bodies the width of a pencil and length of a wine cork. They have orange wings and yellow-black, hairless bodies, and are primarily active in the heat of the afternoon. Paper wasps are mostly found in the spring through the beginning of fall.

Fee: $125 -- includes house visit and site survey (any other exterior locations on the house, eaves, or landscape) to make sure there aren't any other nests. The fee is for a complete nest removal on the property---we do not charge per nest if more than one is found!

Yellow Jackets

Yellow jackets are ground dwelling, and typically live in abandoned animals holes, attics, or any subterranean cavity. Nests are not usually visible as they generally have a small exterior opening. They are super aggressive and there are thousands of bees per hive. Yellow jackets are the size of a pencil eraser, with yellow and black, hairless bodies. They are most active spring to early fall, and in the mid-to-late afternoon heat.

Fee: $175 if located in ground, $225 if located inside a structure - Services include complete site survey and removal of any existing nest. Services are guaranteed for a one year period.

Honey Bees 

Honey bees are removed through either a non-invasive procedure for tree dwelling bees, or a more in depth structural removal from a house or existing structure. Their bodies are black and gold, and furry. They are dormant during winter and the colder months, as well as during the colder times of day. Bees are most active during spring and summer, and during warm afternoons.

The hive is located with a thermal detector to eliminate guess work, after which an exploratory small hole is made and a camera is used to ascertain correctness of location and avoidance of any compromised pipes or structures. Following this, a larger access hole is made, normally about 1.5-2 ft in width. Bees, honey, and wax are removed from the hive, and the bees are reused in local apiaries for honey production and pollination services. Service includes sealing up the original hive entrance once the work is completed. Everything is professionally done, leaving no sticky messes!

Removal From Tree Fee: $350 flat rate.  Bees are relocated, not killed using a special method to remove the bees alive without damaging the tree.  Price includes patch of original hive entrance and comes with a one year no bee guarantee.

Structural Removal Fee: $475 minimum with an additional $100 per 4'h x 16"w x 6"d  area that contains bees and or honey comb,  $75 minimum for an optional wall patch, not including texturing or paint, estimate given on site.