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