Live Honeybee Removal in Central PA
Harrisburg · Hershey · Hummelstown · Mechanicsburg · Palmyra
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We're Beekeepers, Not Exterminators
We're Beekeepers, Not Exterminators
At Been's Bees, we don't kill honeybees — we rehome them. Every colony we collect goes to one of our apiaries in Hummelstown, where they keep doing what they're meant to do: pollinate, build comb, and make honey. We serve homeowners across Hummelstown, Hershey, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Palmyra, and surrounding Central PA.
If you've found bees in your wall, soffit, chimney, tree, or anywhere else on your property, give us a call or text and we can develop a plan to relocate them. Call or text: (435) 610-2436
Honeybee Removal Process
Honeybee Removal Process
We use specialized equipment to extract the bees, the queen, and the comb safely. Honey comb is salvaged where possible and bees are placed in a transport hive. Most wall removals take several hours; large or hard-to-reach colonies may take a full day. We seal the exterior cavity entrance to prevent new colonies from moving in, and provide a temporary closure on the inside with heavy plastic sheeting.
The colony goes home with us to one of our apiaries in Hummelstown, where they get a new hive and time to settle in.
One important note: We're beekeepers, not contractors. While we are fully insured, we are not contractors so any structural repairs (drywall, siding, roofing) need to be arranged separately by the homeowner. We'll always leave the cavity sealed and clean, but we can't put your wall back together.
Estimates
Estimates
We provide free, no-pressure, no-obligation evaluations and quotes for anyone with concerns of honeybees in their home. Call or text us at (435) 610-2436 and we will schedule a free on-site assessment. For wall and structural removals, we need to visit the property to find the colony, evaluate access, and give you a quote.
Pricing
Pricing
Removing a hive is hot, awkward, sting-prone work that often takes hours of careful labor and specialized equipment. Prices are roughly based on the equipment needed to reach the bees. We will give you a no pressure final price during the site assessment so there are no surprises.
Standard (stool or stepladder) $650
Moderate (ladders or scaffolding) $750-$1,000
Complex (bucket lifts): $1,200 and up*
*price lower if homeowner has own bucket lift.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly can you respond?
We try to respond to every inquiry the same day. For non-urgent removals, we typically schedule a free on-site estimate within a few days. Active swarms get priority because they don't stay put for long — if you're looking at one right now, call or text immediately.
What happens to the bees after you remove them?
Every colony we collect goes to one of our apiaries in Hummelstown, where they're given a new hive and time to settle in. We don't sell them, we don't kill them, and we don't pass them off to anyone else. They become part of our operation and keep doing what they're meant to do - pollinate, grow, and make honey.
Why not just exterminate them?
Honeybees are pollinators we genuinely can't afford to lose, and exterminating a colony inside a wall creates a bigger problem than it solves. Dead bees and abandoned honeycomb attract ants, mice, wax moths, and other pests, and untreated honey can leak through drywall for months. Live removal is the cleaner long-term solution for both the homeowner and the bees.
Will you fix the wall or structure after removal?
We're beekeepers, not contractors — we don't carry a construction license, so we can't handle drywall, siding, or roofing repairs. We always seal the cavity and clean up our work area before we leave, but any structural repair needs to be arranged separately by the homeowner.
Can I just remove the bees myself?
We don't recommend it. A wall colony usually contains thousands of bees plus pounds of honey-loaded comb, and disturbing them without the right gear and experience is a fast way to get badly stung, damage your home, or kill the colony. If you're set on doing it yourself, please call us first — we're happy to talk through what you're getting into.
What if I can't afford the removal cost?
Talk to us. We understand the current economy is difficult, and we work with homeowners across a wide range of budgets, and we'd rather find a way to help than turn anyone away. If a job isn't feasible at our normal pricing, we'll be honest about it and try to point you toward another option.
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