Reported a Bee Swarm in Michigan? Here’s What Happens Next

You’ve Done Your Part—Now What?

First, thank you. By taking a moment to report a honey bee swarm in Michigan, you’ve taken a crucial step in protecting these vital pollinators and supporting your local community. Whether you're in Detroit, Grand Rapids, or Ann Arbor, your report has initiated a process that connects a vulnerable bee colony with a knowledgeable local beekeeper. This guide outlines exactly what you can expect to happen next.

Your single action helps ensure these bees find a safe, managed home instead of an unsuitable location where they might not survive or could become a nuisance. You've helped bees, beekeepers, and your neighbors.

Step 1: The Automated Confirmation

Immediately after you submit your report through the Swarmed platform, our system gets to work. You will receive an email confirming that we’ve received your information. This message serves two purposes:

1. Confirmation: It lets you know your report was successfully submitted and is now active in our network.
2. Information: It provides a summary of the details you provided and a link to manage your report if the bees leave before a beekeeper arrives.

This email is the starting pistol for the rescue process. Behind the scenes, your report—including the location and any photos you uploaded—is instantly dispatched to registered beekeepers in your specific area of Michigan.

Step 2: Michigan Beekeepers are Alerted

Swarmed maintains a dedicated network of beekeepers across the state. When your report comes in, beekeepers within a certain radius of your location receive a notification. For these beekeepers, a swarm is a welcome sight. It represents a healthy, natural start for a new hive in their apiary, and they are typically eager to help.

Because honey bee swarms are temporary, time is of the essence. A swarm will usually only remain in one spot for 24 to 72 hours while scout bees search for a permanent home. For this reason, beekeepers on the Swarmed network tend to respond quickly. Response time can vary based on the time of day, beekeeper availability, and your location, but the system is designed for a rapid connection.

Step 3: A Beekeeper Will Contact You

The next thing you should expect is a phone call or text message from a local beekeeper. They will introduce themselves and ask a few key questions to assess the situation before they head to your location.

Be prepared to answer:

• Are the bees still there? Swarms can and do move on, so this is the first thing they need to confirm.
• Can you describe their exact location? For example, “They’re clustered on the lowest branch of the oak tree in my front yard,” or “They’re on the fence post behind the garage.”
• How large is the cluster? Comparing it to a common object like a football or a basketball is very helpful.
• How high off the ground are they? This helps the beekeeper know whether to bring a ladder.
• Have the bees entered any part of a building? This is the most critical question they will ask.

The answer to that last question helps the beekeeper determine if they are dealing with a simple swarm or a more complex situation requiring a different approach and skillset.

Step 4: The Critical Difference: A Free Swarm Rescue vs. a Paid Cutout

Understanding the difference between a swarm and an established colony is essential for managing expectations. Your answers to the beekeeper's questions will help them clarify which one you have.

Honey Bee Swarm (Typically Free to Remove)

A swarm is a transient cluster of bees hanging from a structure like a tree branch, a fence, or playground equipment. The bees are exposed and visible.

• Behavior: The bees are generally docile. They have no home, honey, or young to defend.
• Duration: They are temporarily resting while looking for a permanent home.
• Rescue: A beekeeper can often collect them by simply placing a box underneath the cluster and gently brushing the bees inside. It’s a straightforward process that is fascinating to watch.
• Cost: Because beekeepers want these bees to start new hives, swarm collection is normally free.

Established Hive (Requires a Paid Service)

An established hive or established colony is different. This is when bees have already found their permanent home and have moved *inside* a structure—such as the wall of a house, a chimney, a shed, or a hollow tree. They have started building wax comb, laying eggs, and storing honey.

• Behavior: These bees will be defensive because they are protecting their home, food, and young.
• Rescue: Removing bees from a structure is a complex job known as a “cutout.” It requires carpentry skills and specialized equipment to open the structure, carefully remove all the comb and bees, and then perform any necessary repairs.
• Cost: A cutout is a professional service that always costs money. The work is labor-intensive and requires a unique skillset. The beekeeper will provide you with a fair quote based on the complexity, location, and time required. You have the right to accept or decline this quote.

Reporting through Swarmed is always free to use, and our primary mission is to connect you with beekeepers for simple, free swarm rescues. If the situation is more complex, our network connects you with experts who can handle it properly.

Step 5: The Beekeeper's Visit and the Rescue

Once the situation is clarified, the beekeeper will arrange a time to come to your property.

For a swarm, the process is usually quick and calm. The beekeeper will arrive with their equipment, safely collect the bees, and thank you for making the call. In one state, community reporting helped local beekeepers rescue over 100 swarms in a single season, a testament to the power of simple actions like yours.

For an established hive cutout, the beekeeper will arrive to perform the work as quoted. It will take longer and be more involved, but it is the only way to safely and completely remove a colony that has moved into a structure.

By reporting the bees, you have done the right thing. You’ve given a honey bee colony a second chance and provided a valuable resource to a local Michigan beekeeper who will give them a safe and productive home.

Your report makes a real difference. If you see another swarm this spring, or if a neighbor in Detroit, Grand Rapids, or Ann Arbor mentions seeing one, you know exactly what to do. Encourage them to help protect Michigan's honey bees by reporting the colony. Thank you for being a friend to pollinators.

To report a honey bee colony or to learn more, please visit the Swarmed report page (opens in a new tab).