# Bee Swarm Removal in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Free, humane honey bee swarm removal by local beekeepers. 36 honey bee swarms have been reported within 16 mi of Wilkes-Barre, 23 of them in 2026. 25 local beekeepers on the Swarmed network cover the Wilkes-Barre area and respond to new reports for free.

## Key figures

- Swarms reported in 2026: 23
- Swarms on record nearby: 36
- Swarms reported in the last 12 months: 24
- Beekeepers in range: 25
- County: Luzerne
- Median beekeeper response time in Luzerne: 24 minutes
- Share of reports claimed by a beekeeper: 64.5%

## When swarms happen in Wilkes-Barre

Swarm season in Luzerne peaks in May, when about 55% of the year's swarms are reported.

Warmth accumulated so far this year is running about 5% ahead of last year, so colonies are likely to swarm earlier than usual.

| Month | Swarms reported |
| --- | --- |
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 0 |
| Apr | 1 |
| May | 14 |
| Jun | 6 |
| Jul | 0 |
| Aug | 5 |
| Sep | 10 |
| Oct | 0 |
| 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 (25 cover the Wilkes-Barre 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

## Wilkes-Barre bee swarm questions

### How much does bee swarm 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 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 Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania?

Around Wilkes-Barre, reports peak in May, which accounts for about 39% of the year's reports. So far in 2026, 23 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, 65% of swarm reports were claimed by a beekeeper, typically within 24 minutes of being reported.

### 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.

## Bee removal in other Pennsylvania cities

- [Philadelphia](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/pennsylvania/philadelphia)
- [Norristown](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/pennsylvania/norristown)
- [Pittsburgh](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/pennsylvania/pittsburgh)
- [Franklin Park](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/pennsylvania/franklin-park)
- [Chester](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/pennsylvania/chester)
- [Erie](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/pennsylvania/erie)
- [Jefferson Hills](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/pennsylvania/jefferson-hills)
- [Monroeville](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/pennsylvania/monroeville)
- [West Chester](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/pennsylvania/west-chester)
- [Phoenixville](https://beeswarmed.org/bee-removal/pennsylvania/phoenixville)

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