Yoon,
I don't know how many wild colonies are in your area, but in south
Louisiana, just in my area, I've received 70+ calls in one month to remove
bees. Over half of them are in a structure of some kind(walls, hollow trees,
floors of trailer homes, etc.) These I just flat out refuse to do. Though I
would not like to see any bees destroyed, if I just received 70+ calls in
one month and there are others on the list to retrieve/save bees, just think
of the size of the wild population in my part of the country. And I know
it's on the increase, because I received 35 calls last year in 6 months. I
have to draw the line somewhere. I can't rescue all of them. The easier
swarms were all given good homes and I feel good about my efforts.
However, as for as charging for doing demolition/carpentry work, you should
and not feel bad about it. Tell your customers, "The bee retrieval is free;
the carpentry work will cost you $XX." This year, I have gone into
structures 3 times against my own policy. Why? Because the homeowner called
me every other day. They aggravated me into doing it. Then I told them, "If
you can get someone to open the wall/floor/soffit for me, I'll be happy to
come and get them." All three individuals were in need of some kind. One
woman was elderly and single on a fixed income. One gentleman was suffering
from the effects of polio and one gentleman got stung 10 times on his neck
trying to extricate them. Today, I'm going to retrieve a month old colony
from a gentlemen's soffit. Since they all had the carpentry part done, I
retrieved all the bees for free. Nothing like freebees!!
If you feel that the wild bee colony population in your area is low, I can
see how you feel obligated. But don't let anyone use you. They will have to
pay someone. The people I attend to would gladly pay me, even for a swarm
hanging on a low bush. But I do not charge for bee retrieval, but I would
for carpentry work.
Got to go! The spring nectar flow of privet, white Dutch clover, wild
dogwood and Chinese tallow is almost in full swing!! Drink up ladies!
Buddy Gauthier
Systems Programmer/Analyst - Beekeeper Hobbyist
CAMECOŽ Industries, Inc.
Thibodaux, LA USA
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