Safely Remove a Bee Nest

Summer weather and outdoor activities come with the risk of exposure to bees and the dangers of a bee nest. While professional exterminators can treat larger bee infestations, you can remove smaller hives and nests yourself, if appropriately armed.

Purchase an insecticide can that contains pyrethroids and has a longer range spray than traditional cans. You can find a can that is designed specifically for bees and bee nests in a gardening store or in the gardening section of a superstore.

Step 1 - Understand Safety Concerns

Your first step is to ensure that you are adequately protected. Don full protective clothing before you start.

Step 2 - Spot and Spray the Nest

The best time to approach a bee nest is during the later hours of the evening, since they are inactive at that time. Carry a flashlight, but cover the bulb with red glaze since bees and wasps can not see red light.

Once you spot the nest, spray it with insecticide. Make sure to stand at an appropriate distance from the nest so as to escape falling bees and all those that escape.

Step 3 - Poison the Nest

After spraying the nest for a while, put insect poison inside it. Read the instructions to ensure that you have put in enough to kill all remaining insects. Let the poison work for at least an hour before you move on to the next step.

Step 4 - Re-spray the Nest and Burn it

If there is considerable activity around the hive after an hour's time, spray it again and give it another 30 minutes to subside. Start a fire in a fire pit or a barrel, large enough to burn the bee nest in it. Cut the nest off the tree and carry it to the fire. Carefully toss it in.

Step 5 - Clean the Area Thoroughly

Thoroughly clean the area where the nest hung. Make sure you remove all evidence of the hive so no future bees decide to nest in the same area. Also remove all dead bees from the ground since they are liable to attract others.

Step 6 - Take Additional Considerations

This process is effective for removing smaller bee nests. For a larger nest, contact a professional bee removal service or exterminator. Bee nests are not only hung off trees and the corners of the outside of a home, but can also reside within the outer walls of the house, posing an additional hazard. The above steps can be repeated to remove the nest, though you may need to use a hammer to drill holes in places that can later be easily repaired.