When You See Bees Like This, Don’t Be Afraid — And Please Don’t Interfere
Seeing a large cluster of bees gathered on a tree branch, fence, wall, or even a car can be startling. Many people panic and immediately think about calling emergency services or trying to remove them. But experts say that in most cases, there’s absolutely no reason to be afraid — and no reason to intervene.
What You’re Seeing Is Likely a Bee Swarm
When bees gather tightly together in a large group, they are usually swarming. This is a natural and temporary behavior that happens when a hive becomes too large and a queen leaves with part of the colony to find a new home.
During this time:
The bees are resting
They are focused on protecting their queen
They are not aggressive
In fact, swarming bees are often at their calmest because they have no hive or honey to defend.
Why You Shouldn’t Touch or Disturb Them
Trying to move, spray, or harm swarming bees can:
Stress the bees and make them defensive
Kill beneficial pollinators
Disrupt an important natural process
Poisoning or killing bees also harms the environment, as bees play a crucial role in pollinating plants and supporting food production.
Don’t Call Emergency Services
Firefighters and civil protection services are not meant to handle healthy bee swarms. In many regions, they now redirect these calls to local beekeepers, who are trained to safely relocate bees if needed.
If the swarm is in a dangerous location, the best action is to contact:
A local beekeeper
ADVERTISEMENT
