★★★★★
We definitely recommend Swarmed. We got three responses within 10 minutes of submitting our request. A beekeeper was out to remove our bee swarm within an hour. Great service!
Free, humane, by local beekeepers
Bee Swarm and Hive Removal in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
39 honey bee swarms and colonies have been reported within 16 mi of Wilkes-Barre, 26 of them in 2026. 25 local beekeepers on the Swarmed network cover the Wilkes-Barre area and respond to new reports for free.
As seen in
26
Swarms reported in 2026
39
Swarms on record nearby
25
Beekeepers in range
25 minutes
Median beekeeper response in Luzerne County
When bees show up in Wilkes-Barre
Around Wilkes-Barre, reports peak in May, when about 36% of the year's reports come in. Warmth accumulated so far this year is tracking close to last year, so expect a typical season.
Reports near Wilkes-Barre by month, all years on record.
Recent swarm reports near Wilkes-Barre
- October 2026: swarm inside a structure
- September 2026: swarm inside a structurePhoto verified
- September 2026: swarm inside a structure, about tennis ball size
- September 2026: swarm outdoors, about rugby ball sizePhoto verified
- September 2026: swarm outdoors, about beach ball or larger size
- September 2026: swarm outdoors, about rugby ball sizePhoto verified
- September 2026: swarm outdoors, about rugby ball sizePhoto verified
- September 2026: swarm outdoors, about beach ball or larger sizePhoto verified
Locations and reporter details stay private; reports support local swarm research and beekeeper alerts.
How free swarm removal works
- Step 1
Report the swarm with a photo and location. It takes about two minutes and costs nothing.
- Step 2
Nearby beekeepers on the Swarmed network get alerted instantly (25 cover the Wilkes-Barre area).
- Step 3
A beekeeper claims the report and collects the colony alive, then relocates it to a managed hive.
Bees in a wall or roof in Wilkes-Barre
Of the 39 reports made through Swarmed within 16 mi of Wilkes-Barre, 19 (49%) were established colonies: bees already living inside a wall, roof, chimney, shed or tree rather than a swarm hanging in the open. Getting those out is a cutout: a beekeeper opens the structure, takes the comb and the bees, and relocates the colony to a hive. It is paid work, quoted by the beekeeper after seeing it, and most beekeepers who charge quote between $150 and $800.
Don’t spray it or seal the hole: the comb still has to come out, and a dead colony leaves honey and wax that draw pests and the next swarm. Report it with a photo of where the bees go in, and beekeepers near Wilkes-Barre who take on cutouts are alerted straight away.
What people say about Swarmed
Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Google158 Google reviews
- We definitely recommend Swarmed. We got three responses within 10 minutes of submitting our request. A beekeeper was out to remove our bee swarm within an hour. Great service! (George)
- What an awesome service. We had a swarm pop up at our house and once our Swarmed report was submitted, had 3 beekeepers reach out in a matter of minutes. … (Madison)
- I downloaded the app, filled out the report and was contacted by the beekeeper. He was at my home 20 mins later and collected the swarm. Fantastic (Toby)
- Fantastic service. Within 15 minutes someone had claimed my swarm submission and within an hour Gabriel had come and removed the swarm. Great, great service. (Kimberly)
- What a great app for those that want to keep the bees rather than exterminate (Jim)
- … I filled out the online form and was contacted within minutes! They were at my house within 30 minutes! … (Sue)
- I received a phone call within 10 minutes of reporting, bee keeper arrived within 40 minutes to collect them! Such a wonderful resource for both party’s (Patricia)
- received a call within 15 mins of letting them know about the bee hive in my tree. Kyle came out within the hour and rescued the bees (Colleen)
Wilkes-Barre bee swarm questions
- How much does bee swarm and hive removal cost in Wilkes-Barre?
- A swarm is normally free. Swarmed connects you with 25 local beekeepers covering the Wilkes-Barre 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 the beekeeper quotes you directly. In Swarmed's October 2026 survey of US beekeepers who remove established colonies, 66% of those who charge quoted between $150 and $800 for a cutout, and 24% quoted more than $800. 30% of respondents do cutouts for nothing or a donation.
- 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.
- Will a bee swarm near Wilkes-Barre leave on its own?
- Often, yes. A swarm usually moves on within a few hours to a few days, once its scouts agree on a new home. The risk is where that home turns out to be: a wall, roof, chimney, shed or car vent nearby. Once the bees move in and start building comb, collecting them stops being a free job and becomes a cutout. Reporting the swarm while it is still hanging in the open gives a local beekeeper the chance to collect it first. Please don't spray it: killing a swarm doesn't stop the next one, and honey bees are worth more alive in a beekeeper's hive.
- How do I know if they are honey bees or wasps?
- Honey bees are fuzzy, golden to dark brown, and cluster in a calm ball or beard when they swarm. Wasps and yellow jackets are smooth, shiny and bright yellow and black, and they build grey papery nests. Beekeepers collect honey bees, so a clear photo helps them decide before they drive out. If it turns out to be wasps, a pest control company is the right call.
- When is bee swarm season in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania?
- Around Wilkes-Barre, reports peak in May, which accounts for about 36% of the year's reports. So far in 2026, 26 reports have come in within 16 mi of Wilkes-Barre.
- How fast do beekeepers respond to swarm reports near Wilkes-Barre?
- Over the last two years in Luzerne County, a beekeeper typically claimed a swarm report within 25 minutes of it being reported. 25 local beekeepers on the Swarmed network are in range of Wilkes-Barre, and every one of them is alerted the moment a report comes in.
- Are the bees harmed during removal in Wilkes-Barre?
- 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.
Keep bees near Wilkes-Barre?
26 swarms were reported within 16 mi of Wilkes-Barre in 2026. Swarmed sends local beekeepers a free alert the moment a swarm is reported near them, so you hear about it while the bees are still there.
Bee removal near Wilkes-Barre
Swarm statistics come from reports submitted to Swarmed and are refreshed daily. Last updated November 4, 2026.