Paul: I used to drop the swarm into a wedge shaped screen basket (12x18' and 15' deep) mounted on a pole and carry the swarm aside and lay the basket on a board in front of an empty hive. They'd usually go in but sometimes you'd have to encourage them with a feather/brush. At nite, close the hive and take it home. Dennis Cain [log in to unmask] At 01:46 PM 5/13/96 +0100, you wrote: >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 > >