# Bee Swarm Removal in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Free, humane honey bee swarm removal by local beekeepers. 62 honey bee swarms have been reported within 16 mi of Winston-Salem, 30 of them in 2026. 66 local beekeepers on the Swarmed network cover the Winston-Salem area and respond to new reports for free.

## Key figures

- Swarms reported in 2026: 30
- Swarms on record nearby: 62
- Swarms reported in the last 12 months: 33
- Beekeepers in range: 66
- County: Forsyth
- Median beekeeper response time in Forsyth: 35 minutes
- Share of reports claimed by a beekeeper: 81.8%

## When swarms happen in Winston-Salem

Swarm season in Forsyth peaks in May, when about 21% of the year's swarms are reported.

Warmth accumulated so far this year is running about 10% ahead of last year, so colonies are likely to swarm earlier than usual.

| Month | Swarms reported |
| --- | --- |
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 6 |
| Apr | 13 |
| May | 14 |
| Jun | 10 |
| Jul | 11 |
| Aug | 3 |
| Sep | 2 |
| Oct | 3 |
| 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 (66 cover the Winston-Salem 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

## Winston-Salem bee swarm questions

### How much does bee swarm removal cost in Winston-Salem?

A swarm is normally free. Swarmed connects you with 66 local beekeepers covering the Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem, North Carolina?

In Forsyth County, reports peak in May, which accounts for about 21% of the year's reports. So far in 2026, 30 reports have come in within 16 mi of Winston-Salem.

### How fast do beekeepers respond to swarm reports near Winston-Salem?

Over the last two years in Forsyth County, 82% of swarm reports were claimed by a beekeeper, typically within 35 minutes of being reported.

### Are the bees harmed during removal in Winston-Salem?

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 North Carolina cities

- [Kernersville](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/north-carolina/kernersville)

Swarm statistics come from reports submitted to Swarmed and are refreshed daily. Last updated 2026-09-10.