No one was too sure exactly how long the bees had been in the barn wall. However, about ten years was the best estimate, and judging by the size of this mega nest, ten years was probably pretty accurate.

Trying to have the beehive removed, the owners had several beekeepers assess the job over the years but could find anyone willing to take it on. The termite-infested barn was slated for demolition; however, the bees need relocation before any work could start, and time was running out as the termites had the barn on the verge of collapse.

We jumped at the opportunity to rescue and rehome this massive nest, a job that took more than 12 hours. There were an estimated 80,000 bees in this colony, and the nest contained more than 80kg of honey.

As a bee removal professional, one can expect to receive a few stings on a mission like this. Fortunately, the temperament of the bees was quite docile, and with gentle and methodical work, the work was done with little protective equipment.

The use of a specially designed bee vacuum does NOT harm the bees. They are sucked into a modified beehive box and reunited with the queen bee after the relocation process. ⚠️ A regular vacuum cleaner will kill bees.