In a healthy environment, the Spring season brings flowers and flowers bring bees. Along with bees come regular reports to Nellie Gail Ranch staff of “bee swarms”. The following is some information to help you decide if you should have concerns and provide some resources for education or bee collection/rescue.

First, why do bees swarm? Bee swarming typically occurs in colonies that are thriving and relocating from an original hive. A contingent of workers and a queen depart the original colony, gather at a resting site, often in a tree, while scouts are sent to find a new location. Once found, the swarm will move to the new site and begin to form a nest.

Unless you have bee allergies, honey bee swarms are not typically a major threat. However, they will sting if provoked. Often the swarms will move on in a day or so when they find their preferred nesting site. If you see swarms in one of the community parks, you may report to Nellie Gail Ranch staff at admin@nelliegailranch.org or 949-425-1477. We will monitor and address if the bees are aggressive or if they begin to nest somewhere inappropriately close to playground equipment or other high traffic areas. Bee swarms in City maintained areas can be reported directly to the City. Swarms or nests on homeowner property may be addressed by the homeowner. We urge you to consider using companies that rescue bees and relocate. Alberta the Beekeeper has assisted us with two recent swarming reports.

Below is a link to the Orange County Bee Keepers Association that provide additional information and educational resources.
https://www.ocbeekeepers.org

Also for potential homeowner backyard beekeeping enthusiasts, the following is a link to the City of Laguna Hills Municipal Code 9-12.060 Keeping of Bees
https://www.codepublishing.com/CA/LagunaHills/#!/LagunaHills09/LagunaHills0912.html#9-12.060