Bee-list,
 
I am on a number of swarm lists.  Today I got 2 calls.  I keep getting many
people ask me if I charge for picking up swarms.  It has been my opinion
that I am doing a community service by removing swarms and therefore do not
charge anything. (I make my living as a chiropractor and beekeeping is a
hobby).
 
My question is:  Should beekeepers charge to remove swarms?
 
I usually invite the person(s) who called for my services to watch ( at a
safe distance) and ask questions for purpose of education.  And I also
leave them with a jar of honey as a token of appreciation for helping save
these insects from death by extermination = soapy water.
 
In the swarm case today, I was near a shopping mall and it wasn't too long
before a small crowd formed asking lots of questions... Typical ones are:
"Are these the Killer bees?"   "Do you get stung?"
 
It was a lot of fun today and I made sure the honeybee got a lot of good
PR.  I only hope this continues when the AHB starts to spread thoughout
Calif.
 
 
 
 
 
Paul Cronshaw, D.C.
Cyberchiro and Hobby Beekeeper
Santa Barbara, CA  USA