Bees removed from junked trailer Lehigh Acres, FL

BEE REMOVAL
Lehigh Travel Trailer

Once upon a time in a land far away a couple wanted to haul their old junk travel trailer off to the dump to become landfill; however, they were not permitted to do so since it contained a bee's nest. They had unsuccessfully tried to kill the bees using insecticide bombs (Please don't do this!... it doesn't work!)

Since the owners wished to junk the trailer, they eagerly gave a local beekeeper the "go ahead" to tear open the useless trailer as he saw fit... in order to locate and ascertain that the removal would be thorough and complete. The walls in the area of the nest were opened from the exterior and examined for any nest (feral combs with eggs, larva, or capped brood). Once the exterior was clear, he proceeded to the inside.

He could hear the bees buzzing under the kitchen sink drain and was certain the nest was in the wooden box which covered the wheel-well. The box extended from the stove, underneath the sink drains, over over to left below an air conditioner unit (approx. 5-ft long) To facilitate the removal of the long box: all the cabinet doors, drawers, and styles had to be removed. He then was able pry up the plywood cover enough to puff smoke in around the bees, then sliced the feral combs (filled with honey and brood) loose from the cover carefully using a machete so as not to harm any bees. Total removal of the cover revealed the large nest and about 45 pounds of honey (see photo below):

The nest and honey were temporarily placed in drawers, so they could be bagged for disposal. The honey was not salvaged, because the owner had used insecticide bombs in a futile attempt to eliminate the nest. ADVISE: Don't ever try to use insecticide bombs or sprays to try to rid yourself of bees... it doesn't work!

This is what the wheel well area looked like after the wooden box and ALL the nest was removed. There was no garden hose long enough to reach the trailer, but the beekeeper recommended that the owner hose down all the sticky honey (flush it to the outside of the trailer) and leave the doors open so other foraging bees could come in an rob all the honey and help clean up the mess, before hauling the trailer off to the dump (land fill site):

If you live in Lee County (Alva, Olga, Buckingham, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, or Fort Myers) and have need of a "bee removal expert", then e-mail Old Man Riggs... he may BEE able to get you in touch with a beekeeper or bee remover who can handle this type of project without killing the bees. If bees must be killed, then a pest control person should be contacted instead of a beekeeper. Old Man Riggs recommends experienced beekeeper bee removers such as B. Keith Councell or Carroll Rhodes (a.k.a. The Bee Man). CLICK HERE for e-mail instructions. If you contact either of these beekeepers, please mention that you saw this website and that Old Man Riggs says, "Hello". Note: Old Man Riggs no longer removes bees (retired from this 5-11-07) for LIABILITY REASONS.

Note: Old Man Riggs no longer removes bees (retired from this 5-11-07) for LIABILITY REASONS.

Here are some links to others who may be able to help with bee removal

[ Carrol Rhodes ] | [ B. Keith Councell - Bee Alert ] | [ Florida Bee Removal - Apian Sting Operation, Inc. ]