A swarm happens when a colony of honey bees has outgrown their current hive. A new queen will recruit half the bees in a colony and move out to find a new place.
During swarming, honey bees are extremely docile, because they aren’t guarding resources or a hive. They are resting until their scouts have found a new home. However, this can also be scary if they are occupying your home, barn, vehicle, or another space that you’d prefer was bee-free.
Do:
- Contact someone for help (see list below)
- Observe or take pictures from a safe distance
Don’t:
- Try to move it or disturb it
- Call an exterminator
- Spray water or insecticide on them
Swarm catching or removal is not a service we provide, however, we do have recommendations for who to contact in the case of a swarm settling in your space, in the table below.
If there is no connection listed in your county, please try Swarmed. Swarmed is a free service that connects people who find a swarm of honey bees with a local beekeeper who can safely collect them.
| COUNTY (WA) | RESOURCE(S) FOR SWARM CONTROL: |
|---|---|
| Adams County | Try to find someone on Swarmed, a free service to connect you with a local beekeeper. |
| Asotin County | Try to find someone on Swarmed, a free service to connect you with a local beekeeper. |
| Benton County | Mid-Columbia Beekeepers Association |
| Chelan County | John Yerby: 509-617-2476 |
| Clallam County | North Olympic Peninsula Beekeepers Association |
| Clark County | Johns Lies: 360- 518-0787 Vanessa Lies: 360-518-1798 |
| Columbia County | Try to find someone on Swarmed, a free service to connect you with a local beekeeper. |
| Cowlitz County | Cowlitz Beekeepers Association |
| Douglas County | Try to find someone on Swarmed, a free service to connect you with a local beekeeper. |
| Ferry County | Gregg Caudell: 509-690-0528 |
| Franklin County | Mid-Columbia Beekeepers Association |
| Garfield County | Try to find someone on Swarmed, a free service to connect you with a local beekeeper. |
| Grant County | Try to find someone on Swarmed, a free service to connect you with a local beekeeper. |
| Grays Harbor County | Try to find someone on Swarmed, a free service to connect you with a local beekeeper. |
| Island County | Skagit County Beekeepers Association (Whidbey Island) Tobey Nelson: 360-632-0686 Doug Moore: 425-923-3626 |
| Jefferson County | Tony, Swarm Catcher: 360-316-9503 East Jefferson Beekeepers Association |
| King County | Snoqualmie Valley Beekeepers Association Northern parts of King Co. Only: Northwest District Beekeepers Association Northern parts of King Co. Doug Moore: 425-923-3626 |
| Kitsap County | Try to find someone on Swarmed, a free service to connect you with a local beekeeper. |
| Kittitas County | Try to find someone on Swarmed, a free service to connect you with a local beekeeper. |
| Klickitat County | Try to find someone on Swarmed, a free service to connect you with a local beekeeper. |
| Lewis County | Dani Craig: 360-431-8433 or Danielleacraig@gmail.com Lewis County Beekeepers Association |
| Lincoln County | West Plains Beekeepers Association |
| Mason County | Try to find someone on Swarmed, a free service to connect you with a local beekeeper. |
| Okanogan County | Try to find someone on Swarmed, a free service to connect you with a local beekeeper. |
| Pacific County | Try to find someone on Swarmed, a free service to connect you with a local beekeeper. |
| Pend Oreille County | Try to find someone on Swarmed, a free service to connect you with a local beekeeper. |
| Pierce County | Pierce County Beekeepers Association Dave Ledger (prefers text): 352-228-1100 Key Peninsula Beekeepers |
| San Juan County | Brian Schmitz: 253-549-6055 Scott Reynolds: 360-622-9247 |
| Skagit County | Dawn Beck: 206-719-3666 Doug Moore: 425-923-3626 Steve Winchell: 425-501-9701 or stevewinchell51@gmail.com South Skagit County only: Skagit County Beekeepers Association Mt. Bakers Beekeeper Association |
| Skamania County | Try to find someone on Swarmed, a free service to connect you with a local beekeeper. |
| Snohomish County | North Snohomish Co. Only: Skagit County Beekeepers Association Northwest District Beekeepers Association Doug Moore: 425-923-3626 |
| Spokane County | Aaron Cook: 801-577-7658 Larry Cameron: 509-671-0116 or larryleesbees@gmail.com Jim Lewis: 509-999-6101 or Jim.boretec@gmail.com West Plains Beekeepers Association Inland Empires Beekeeper Association Backyard Beekeepers Association (Deer Park) |
| Stevens County | Gram McGregor: 509-435-7644 |
| Thurston County | Dani Craig: 360-431-8433 or Danielleacraig@gmail.com Olympia Beekeepers Association |
| Wahkiakum County | Try to find someone on Swarmed, a free service to connect you with a local beekeeper. |
| Walla Walla County | Try to find someone on Swarmed, a free service to connect you with a local beekeeper. |
| Whatcom County | North Cascade Beekeepers Dawn Beck: 206-719-3666 Doug Moore: 425-923-3626 Mt. Bakers Beekeeper Association |
| Whitman County | Kevin Davidson: 208-316-2258 (Whitman County, Colfax, Endicott, St. John) Robin Woods: 208-301-1270 Scott Smith: 208-596-1977 |
| Yakima County | Double R Honey: 509-452-8267 |
This list was updated in October 2026. If you would like to be added or removed from this list, please contact briana.price@wsu.edu
Please note: There is no guarantee a swarm can be easily removed. There is also a chance that swarm removal may require structural damage. The WSU Bee program assumes no responsibility for any damage or liability caused by anyone removing a swarm.