Don't panic! The Lower Eastern Shore Beekeepers are here to help.

Report a Swarm

Is it a Swarm or an Established Hive?

First, let's make sure you are in the right place!

  • Yes, it is a Swarm: If you see a basketball-sized clump of bees hanging from a tree branch, resting on a fence, or clustered on a vehicle, you are on the right page. Please continue reading below.

  • No, it is an Established Hive: If the bees are actively flying in and out of a hole in your siding, a soffit, a chimney, or a shed floor, they have already moved in. This requires a different, specialized service.

    Click Here to visit our Structural Bee Removal Page

A yellow and black Maryland flag pattern, red and white puzzle piece design, with a large bee habitat filled with bees attached to a wooden post outdoors, with trees and a fence in the background.
Close-up of a bee hive attached to the underside of a metal structure, with bees flying around and a rocky ground with some dry plants underneath.

Have a Swarm? Let Us Help!

Before you call, please follow these essential safety guidelines:

  1. Keep your distance: Do not poke, prod, or disturb the cluster.

  2. Do NOT spray them: Never spray a swarm with water, pesticides, soapy water, or anything else. Honey bees are a vital agricultural resource and are protected by our state's agricultural goals.

  3. Gather Information: Take a quick photo from a safe distance. Note roughly how high off the ground the swarm is, what it is attached to, and how long it has been there.

Honey bee swarms are an amazing, natural part of their reproductive cycle. When a colony outgrows its space, the old queen takes half the bees to find a new home.

While a large cloud of bees can look intimidating, a resting swarm is generally very docile because they have no brood (baby bees) or honey to defend. They are simply resting while scout bees look for a permanent cavity.

How to Contact a Swarm Catcher

Time is critical! A swarm may only rest in one location for a few hours before flying away.

Please contact a beekeeper listed below in your specific county. If you are unable to reach a beekeeper in the county where you are located, please continue down the list and contact a beekeeper in the next closest county. Our members often cross county lines to ensure these bees are safely retrieved.

📍 Wicomico County Swarm Catchers

Brian Hildreth- 302-542-9410

Cindi Hildreth- 443-235-8799

Lauren Pascarella- 443-358-6901

Elisiah Wolfersberger- 410-726-9347

📍 Worcester County Swarm Catchers

Thom Babcock- 443-754-0151

Derrick Babcock- 443-783-5639

Matt Price- 443-513-6415

Jimmy Selby- 443-669-8153

📍 Somerset County Swarm Catchers

Jim Leether- 443-944-4840

🗺️ Outside Our Service Area?

If you are located off the Lower Eastern Shore, our neighboring associations have networks of experienced beekeepers ready to assist you:

Wye River Beekeepers (WRB)

Upper Eastern Shore Beekeeping Assoc(UESBA)

Delaware Beekeepers Association

Beekeepers Guild of the Eastern Shore