# Bee Swarm Removal in Petaluma, California

Free, humane honey bee swarm removal by local beekeepers. 42 honey bee swarms have been reported within 16 mi of Petaluma, 6 of them in 2026. 4 local beekeepers on the Swarmed network cover the Petaluma area and respond to new reports for free.

## Key figures

- Swarms reported in 2026: 6
- Swarms on record nearby: 42
- Swarms reported in the last 12 months: 7
- Beekeepers in range: 4
- County: Sonoma
- Median beekeeper response time in Sonoma: 4 minutes
- Share of reports claimed by a beekeeper: 93.3%

## When swarms happen in Petaluma

Swarm season in Sonoma peaks in July, when about 32% of the year's swarms are reported.

Warmth accumulated so far this year is running about 8% ahead of last year, so colonies are likely to swarm earlier than usual.

| Month | Swarms reported |
| --- | --- |
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 0 |
| Apr | 14 |
| May | 7 |
| Jun | 7 |
| Jul | 5 |
| Aug | 4 |
| Sep | 4 |
| Oct | 1 |
| Nov | 0 |
| Dec | 0 |

## How free swarm removal works

1. Report the swarm with a photo and location. It takes about two minutes and costs nothing.
2. Nearby beekeepers on the Swarmed network get alerted instantly (4 cover the Petaluma area).
3. A beekeeper claims the report and collects the colony alive, then relocates it to a managed hive.

Reporting is always free, and a swarm, a cluster of bees resting in the open, is normally collected at no charge. A contribution to Swarmed is suggested after reporting but never required. It can depend on the situation: an unusually difficult retrieval may be quoted. Bees that have moved into a wall, roof, floor or tree cavity are an established colony rather than a swarm, known as a cutout: the comb and honey have to be removed, so the attending beekeeper or removal professional may quote a fair price for that work. Swarmed does not set or take a share of that fee.

Report a swarm: https://beeswarmed.org/report-bee-colony/form

## Petaluma bee swarm questions

### How much does bee swarm removal cost in Petaluma?

A swarm is normally free. Swarmed connects you with 4 local beekeepers covering the Petaluma area who collect healthy honey bee swarms and relocate them to managed hives, and they do not usually charge for a swarm resting in the open. Reporting is free, and a contribution to Swarmed is suggested afterwards but never required. It can depend on the situation, though: an unusually difficult retrieval may be quoted, and if the bees have moved into a wall, roof, floor or tree cavity that is an established colony rather than a swarm, known as a cutout, where the comb and honey have to be removed and a beekeeper or removal professional may quote you a fair price.

### Is a bee swarm the same as a colony inside my house?

No, and the difference decides whether the job is free. A swarm is a cluster of bees resting in the open, on a branch, fence or post, while scouts look for a new home. It has no comb yet, so a beekeeper can normally collect it quickly and free of charge. Bees flying in and out of a gap in a structure have already built comb inside, which makes it a cutout: paid work that the attending beekeeper quotes directly. Swarmed does not set or take a share of that fee.

### When is bee swarm season in Petaluma, California?

Around Petaluma, reports peak in April, which accounts for about 33% of the year's reports. So far in 2026, 6 reports have come in within 16 mi of Petaluma.

### How fast do beekeepers respond to swarm reports near Petaluma?

Over the last two years in Sonoma County, 93% of swarm reports were claimed by a beekeeper, typically within 4 minutes of being reported.

### Are the bees harmed during removal in Petaluma?

No. Swarmed beekeepers collect the colony alive and relocate it to a managed hive where it can thrive, instead of exterminating it. Honey bee swarms are usually docile and removal is safest within the first day or two.

## Bee removal in other California cities

- [Downey](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/california/downey)
- [Los Angeles](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/california/los-angeles)
- [Rosemead](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/california/rosemead)
- [Glendale](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/california/glendale)
- [Fullerton](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/california/fullerton)
- [San Diego](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/california/san-diego)
- [Long Beach](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/california/long-beach)
- [Huntington Beach](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/california/huntington-beach)
- [Torrance](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/california/torrance)
- [Sacramento](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/california/sacramento)

Swarm statistics come from reports submitted to Swarmed and are refreshed daily. Last updated 2026-09-20.