Bee-listers,
 
It is swarming season in Santa Barbara. I have received 3 calls alone in
the past week to remove swarms from various sites around the town.
 
I learned my lesson on the method of transporting one swarm which I would
like to share with this list.
 
A local trucking company had a swarm move into its yard and collect on a
single branch 15 feet above the ground. Since the swam was right in the
midst of trucks and people, the manager wanted them out ASAP.
 
With the use of a fork lift, he lifted me up to the swarm.  I cut the
branch with the swarm and dumped it into a PLASTIC bag. Forgot to poke some
holes in the bag.  Big mistake!!  ByY the time I got to my apiary (10
minutes traveling time),  1/2 the colony had perished by suffication. I
found the queen but she was too far gone so I combined the remaining bees
with a new colony I had collected a week before.
 
My question is:
 
1)What methods are used to transport a swarm back to the apiary?
2)Would a burlap sack work better? Cardboard Box?
 
I am interested in experiences from members of this list.
 
Paul Cronshaw DC
Hobby Beekeeper
Santa Barbara,  CA