I'm really leery about this, but .... gotta go through with it: 
A woman 30 miles from me contacted me about getting out the bees in one of her closets -- the deets: the bees're "behind some insulation" in a closet, and seem to access the area via a hole or crack under the house's eaves. The colony apparently has a history: "somebody supposedly took care of it earlier [when? last year, maybe?] but the bees came back". My thought is, a pro of some sort dug the colony out but left the queen, or didn't thoroughly cleanse the area of its strong scents (so a new colony moved in), etc. :s
OK, bottom-line: I'm going there Wed. morning, taking some stuff I'd ordinarily take for capturing a tree- or bush-based swarm (boxes, knife/clippers/syrup-sprayer and so-on). What I'd really need would probably be a bee vacuum but I'm pretty sure I can't borrow one, and sure can't afford one at this stage of my unemployment.
I told the woman I'd do what I could (odds are, nothing) but wouldn't rip out any boards or be invasive. If the colony's established, I'm sure the #s behind the insulation would only be the tip of a "bee burg".
I'm aware there're pro's locally who have the goods and credentials for bee removal, but I wanted to see if I could do any good (and mostly, for free). Sure wouldn't mind obtaining a gaggle of bees and comb for myself, too. From what I've read, a pro would destroy what had to be destroyed (wall-wise) but would repair the damage, whereas I wouldn't.
Any suggestions (other than "cancel!") would be appreciated. Sounds like a mess to me. I'm guessing I have to use a smoker -- so, going through the house with a smoking smoker? Anybody have experience with this? I looked under the "cut-out" part of Beesource but didn't really see anything pertinent.
Mitch
PS: can't say that just beginning to come off a sinus infection is helping me -- not to mention some issues with joints lately (elbow, knee and shoulder, for Allah's sakes!) :lookout:
A woman 30 miles from me contacted me about getting out the bees in one of her closets -- the deets: the bees're "behind some insulation" in a closet, and seem to access the area via a hole or crack under the house's eaves. The colony apparently has a history: "somebody supposedly took care of it earlier [when? last year, maybe?] but the bees came back". My thought is, a pro of some sort dug the colony out but left the queen, or didn't thoroughly cleanse the area of its strong scents (so a new colony moved in), etc. :s
OK, bottom-line: I'm going there Wed. morning, taking some stuff I'd ordinarily take for capturing a tree- or bush-based swarm (boxes, knife/clippers/syrup-sprayer and so-on). What I'd really need would probably be a bee vacuum but I'm pretty sure I can't borrow one, and sure can't afford one at this stage of my unemployment.
I told the woman I'd do what I could (odds are, nothing) but wouldn't rip out any boards or be invasive. If the colony's established, I'm sure the #s behind the insulation would only be the tip of a "bee burg".
I'm aware there're pro's locally who have the goods and credentials for bee removal, but I wanted to see if I could do any good (and mostly, for free). Sure wouldn't mind obtaining a gaggle of bees and comb for myself, too. From what I've read, a pro would destroy what had to be destroyed (wall-wise) but would repair the damage, whereas I wouldn't.
Any suggestions (other than "cancel!") would be appreciated. Sounds like a mess to me. I'm guessing I have to use a smoker -- so, going through the house with a smoking smoker? Anybody have experience with this? I looked under the "cut-out" part of Beesource but didn't really see anything pertinent.
Mitch
PS: can't say that just beginning to come off a sinus infection is helping me -- not to mention some issues with joints lately (elbow, knee and shoulder, for Allah's sakes!) :lookout: