Bee and Hive Removal From Trees and Palms
Bee removal from trees and palms in Palm Beach County: open swarms, hollow trunk colonies and palm boot hives removed alive without needless tree damage.
Tree calls come in two very different forms. An open cluster on a branch is a swarm and is usually collected in under an hour. A colony living inside a hollow limb, a storm wound or the boot of a palm is an established hive with comb, and reaching it takes more work. South Florida's live oaks, ficus, gumbo limbo and cabbage palms provide plenty of both.
What Bees in a Tree Includes
- Swarm and cavity colony removal
- Palm boot and hollow-trunk colonies
- Tree-safe techniques, no unnecessary cutting
- Colony relocated alive whenever possible
How We Do It, Step by Step
- Identify swarm or established hive. No comb and a tight cluster means swarm. Bees flowing in and out of a knot hole, split limb or palm boot means a hive.
- Assess the cavity. For hive removals we determine how deep the cavity runs and whether it can be opened without compromising the tree.
- Work at height safely. Ladder or lift access with the area below kept clear of people and pets.
- Remove bees and comb. Bees vacuumed alive, brood rebanded, comb removed from the cavity as completely as the wood allows.
- Close the cavity. Where appropriate we close or screen the cavity so the same hollow is not reoccupied next season.
What Drives the Price
Bee removal pricing covers a wide spectrum, because the cost depends almost entirely on where the hive is and how hard it is to safely reach. Easy, ground-level jobs, like a small hive inside an in-ground water meter box, sit at the low end, often around $300-$400. Difficult jobs, hives in a second-story roof, at the top of a high-rise, or sealed inside a concrete wall, can run well into the thousands, especially when professional removal plus repairs are involved. You always get an upfront, no-obligation quote after we assess your specific situation.
For this service specifically, the biggest cost factors are:
- Height and whether a lift or climbing is required
- Swarm on a branch versus established colony inside a cavity
- How deep and enclosed the cavity is
- Proximity to structures, pools, driveways and power lines
- Whether any limb work is needed to reach the nest
See real numbers and examples on the bee removal cost page.
What Happens After the Bees Are Gone
Removal is only finished when the structure is closed. We clean and treat the cavity so residual pheromone stops advertising the space to the next scout, seal and screen the entry point, and coordinate the repair through licensed contractors, roofers and painters. If comb or honey soaked insulation or drywall, that material is replaced rather than covered up. See honeycomb removal and repair and bee proofing for how we keep it from happening twice.
Africanized Bees and When It Is an Emergency
Palm Beach County has established Africanized honey bee populations, so a defensive colony is a real possibility on any job. If bees are actively stinging, if they react to mowers, vibration or foot traffic near the nest, or if the colony is near children, pets, livestock, customers or a school, treat it as an emergency: keep everyone well back and call 561-371-1722. See our emergency bee removal page and the Africanized bee safety guide.
Bees in a Tree Across Palm Beach County
We provide bees in a tree throughout the county. Popular service areas:
See all Palm Beach County service areas
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost never. Most tree colonies can be worked through the existing opening or a small access cut in a limb. We are not tree removal contractors, and taking down a healthy tree is a last resort discussed with you first.
It is very common here. Cabbage palm boots create protected pockets that colonies move into readily. They are usually reachable and the colony can be relocated.
Bee removal pricing covers a wide spectrum, because the cost depends almost entirely on where the hive is and how hard it is to safely reach. Easy, ground-level jobs, like a small hive inside an in-ground water meter box, sit at the low end, often around $300-$400. Difficult jobs, hives in a second-story roof, at the top of a high-rise, or sealed inside a concrete wall, can run well into the thousands, especially when professional removal plus repairs are involved. You always get an upfront, no-obligation quote after we assess your specific situation.
Yes. We offer full professional repair services: licensed and insured contractors, handymen, master painters, and licensed roofer repairs. Once the bees and honeycomb are removed we put your property back exactly the way it was, so you deal with one company from start to finish.
Yes. Palm Beach Bee Rescue runs a 24/7 emergency line with a 24-hour response guarantee, and stinging emergencies get priority same-day dispatch whenever possible.