How to Move a Beehive

Bees navigate by memory and sun position, so a daytime move scatters the colony and a rough one can crush the queen. The safe method is a night move with the entrance screened shut, and for most established hives that means calling a beekeeper rather than doing it yourself.

Pro tip: If you are hiring a beekeeper to relocate the hive, book them 2 to 3 weeks ahead of your move date since local apiary services get booked up fast in spring and summer.

Watch out: Moving an active hive is genuinely dangerous without protective gear and experience; a defensive colony can deliver dozens of stings in seconds, which is a medical emergency for anyone with an allergy.

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