LEWIS COUNTY BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION                                                          

 In spring & summer, LCBA volunteers capture honey bee swarms in Lewis County, Washington, free of charge, 7 days a week.  FYI, LCBA is a WA nonprofit corporation & 501(c)3 organization, not a county agency. 

Colony removals: for information about individuals who will remove established bee colonies, scroll down below swarm list. Some of these individuals may charge for their removal services.

Not in Lewis or the southern part of Thurston County? Click here to visit Beesource.com's nationwide bee swarm & colony removal list.

Lewis County Beekeepers' Association does not guarantee outcomes of swarm captures: names listed below are volunteers who are willing to remove bees for free.  Our volunteers will gladly accept donations for gas, supplies, or to support LCBA's educational programs. We will hive bees for homeowners who are members of LCBA; otherwise, our volunteers take the bees.

Before contacting our volunteers, please have the following information ready:

(1)  Your physical address & telephone #

(2)  Where are the bees?  Please give us details:

*   If it is a swarm, how high off the ground are the bees?  Do you have ladders or do our volunteers need to bring one? 

* If they are in a structure, what kind of structure, & where in the structure? 

Above, honey bee swarm hived at May 30, 2015 LCBA workshop.

Honey Bee Swarms ~ Volunteers by Area

When you call one of our volunteers, please do not call others on the list: give our volunteer time to get back to you.  Many of our volunteers have full time jobs. If you do call multiple volunteers, please respect our volunteers' time by calling others back to let them know they are not needed after a volunteer contacts you.

Adna: 

Steve & Barbara Grega: (360) 269-2909; (360) 262-9513

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Bob McCormick: (360) 880-6752

Bucoda

Adam Claridge: (360) 763 1320

Centralia:

Cody Warren: (360) 388-1669; (253) 905-1452

William R. Pittman: (360) 736-8061

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Gillian Davis: (503) 284-1844

Norm Switzler:  (360) 388-0996; (360) 338-1788

Chehalis:

Gottfried Fritz:  (360) 623-4748; (360) 996-4957

Cody Warren: (360) 388-1669; (253) 905-1452

Dave Batchelor: (360) 748-6250

William R. Pittman: (360) 736-8061

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785 3804; (360) 219-6694

Walt Wilson: (360) 262-9526; (360) 430-4004

Gillian Davis: (503) 284-1844

Courtney Miller: (360) 623-9532

Bob McCormick: (360) 880-6752

Norm Switzler:  (360) 388-0996; (360) 338-1788

Elbe:

Stevan Mayer: (360) 496-5503

Martin Stenzig:  (360) 525-3991; (781) 354-4291

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Ethel:

Ed Odell:  (360) 978-4659

Peter Glover & Susanne Weil:  (360) 880-8130

Dave Batchelor: (360) 748-6250

Walt Wilson: (360) 262-9526; (360) 430-4004

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Glenoma:

Nancy Toenyan: (360) 983-3009

Richard Kain: (360) 498-5473

Nancy Miller: (360) 880-7400

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

 Martin Stenzig:  (360) 525-3991; (781) 354-4291

Grays Harbor County:

Cody Warren: (360) 388-1669; (253) 905-1452

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Littlerock:

Cody Warren: (360) 388-1669; (253) 905-1452

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Mineral:

Stevan Mayer: (360) 496-5503

 Nancy Toenyan: (360) 983-3009

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Martin Stenzig:  (360) 525-3991; (781) 354-4291

Morton:

Nancy Toenyan: (360) 983-3009

Richard Kain: (360) 498-5473

Nancy Miller: (360) 880-7400

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

 Martin Stenzig:  (360) 525-3991; (781) 354-4291

Mossyrock:

Nancy Toenyan: (360) 983-3009

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Rich Harned:  (360) 520-0388

 Martin Stenzig:  (360) 525-3991; (781) 354-4291

 Napavine:

Mel Grigorich:  (360) 262-3500; (360) 269-1089

Gottfried Fritz: (360) 996-4957

Walt Wilson: (360) 262-9526; (360) 430-4004

Rick Battin:  (360) 623-9727

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Olympia:

Olympia Beekeepers' Association Swarm Phone #:  360-515-1068

Cody Warren: (360) 388-1669; (253) 905-1452

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Onalaska:

Peter Glover & Susanne Weil:  (360) 880-8130

Ed Odell:  (360) 978-4659

Dave Batchelor: (360) 748-6250

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Packwood/Randle:

Nancy Toenyan: (360) 983-3009

Richard Kain: (360) 498-5473

Nancy Miller: (360) 880-7400

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

 Martin Stenzig:  (360) 525-3991; (781) 354-4291

Pe Ell:

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Rochester:

Cody Warren: (360) 388-1669; (253) 905-1452

Norm Switzler:  (360) 388-0996; (360) 338-1788

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Tenino:

Adam Claridge: (360) 763 1320

Cody Warren: (360) 388-1669; (253) 905-1452

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Toledo:

Ed Odell:  (360) 978-4659

Erik Wingren: (209) 973-6975

Dawn Wiltbank: (360) 269 0637

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Walt Wilson: (360) 262-9526; (360) 430-4004

Tumwater:

Cody Warren: (360) 388-1669; (253) 905-1452

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Vader:

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Winlock:

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Erik Wingren: (209) 973-6975

Dawn Wiltbank:  (360) 269 0637

Ed & Sue Carter: (303) 596-8863; (720) 289-7293

Rick Battin:  (360) 623-9727

REMOVING BEES FROM STRUCTURES WHERE THEY HAVE AN ESTABLISHED COLONY 

As an association, LCBA does not remove established bee colonies from structures, except for occasional teaching workshops. Below is a list of individuals who are willing to remove bees from structures. In some cases, charges may apply, particularly where removals are complicated and/or require significant travel. Those listed below will ask before tearing down siding, etc., but putting structures back together is up to the homeowner.

  By Area

Adna: 

Steve & Barb Grega: (360) 269-2909; (360) 262-9513

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Centralia:

Cody Warren: (360) 388-1669; (253) 905-1452

Steve & Barbara Grega: (360) 269-2909; (360) 262-9513

William R. Pittman: (360) 736-8061

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Norm Switzler:  (360) 388-0996; (360) 338-1788

Chehalis:

Cody Warren: (360) 388-1669; (253) 905-1452

Steve & Barbara Grega: (360) 269-2909; (360) 262-9513

William R. Pittman: (360) 736-8061

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785 3804; (360) 219-6694

Norm Switzler:  (360) 388-0996; (360) 338-1788

Elbe:

Martin Stenzig:  (360) 525-3991; (781) 354-4291

Ethel:

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Glenoma:

 Martin Stenzig:  (360) 525-3991; (781) 354-4291

Grays Harbor County:

Cody Warren: (360) 388-1669; (253) 905-1452

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Littlerock: 

Cody Warren: (360) 388-1669; (253) 905-1452

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Mineral:

 Martin Stenzig:  (360) 525-3991; (781) 354-4291

Morton:

 Martin Stenzig:  (360) 525-3991; (781) 354-4291

Mossyrock:

 Martin Stenzig:  (360) 525-3991; (781) 354-4291

Napavine:

Steve & Barbara Grega: (360) 269-2909; (360) 262-9513

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Olympia:

Olympia Beekeepers' Association Phone #:  360-515-1068

Cody Warren: (360) 388-1669; (253) 905-1452

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Onalaska:

Steve & Barbara Grega: (360) 269-2909; (360) 262-9513

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Packwood/Randle:

 Martin Stenzig:  (360) 525-3991; (781) 354-4291

Pe Ell:

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Rochester:

Cody Warren: (360) 388-1669; (253) 905-1452

Norm Switzler:  (360) 388-0996; (360) 338-1788

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Tenino:

Cody Warren: (360) 388-1669; (253) 905-1452

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Toledo:

Steve & Barbara Grega: (360) 269-2909; (360) 262-9513

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Tumwater:

Cody Warren: (360) 388-1669; (253) 905-1452

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Vader:

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Winlock:

Ed & Sue Carter: (303) 596-8863; (720) 289-7293

Rick Battin:  (360) 623-9727

Steve & Barbara Grega: (360) 269-2909; (360) 262-9513

Phil Wilson:  (360) 785-3804; (360) 219-6694

Want to go along on a virtual tour of a honey bee colony extraction?  Click here for Team Mossyrock's writeup of one of their bee removal adventures. 

Below, Team Mossyrock usually consists of (left to right) LCBA Past-President Norm Switzler (the guy with the bees all over his back), Martin Stenzig, Nancy Toenyan, & (photographer, not pictured) Marcelle Stenzig, plus others who want the experience! 

To learn more about LCBA colony removal workshops, click here for our Mentors & Classes page.





 Are you sure you have bees, not yellowjackets, hornets, wasps, or bumblebees? FYI - LCBA volunteers only remove honey bees.

NEED YELLOWJACKETS, WASPS, OR HORNETS REMOVED? Scroll down this column for contact information.

(Image from Extension.org)

Honey bees are normally gentle: stinging kills them, so if you move slowly & quietly, they are not likely to sting you. (To learn more about bee stings, click here.)

Also, honey bees normally are not ground nesters: if you have stinging insects coming out of the ground, they are likely yellowjackets.

Below are honey bees on comb:



 In contrast, below, paper wasps on nest: (Image is titled "Paper wasps and nest, about 8 feet off the ground, Los Angeles, California," by downtowngal, Wikimedia Commons; CC-BY-3.0).

Observing differences between honey bee comb & yellowjacket/hornet nests are very helpful in telling what you've got!

 Below, here's what a wasp nest looks like:

Below, what a wild honey bee nest looks like:

Below, what honey bee comb looks like:

Helpful websites for telling whether you have honey bees, yellow jackets, wasps, or something else: click here for the University of California-Riverside's page, or visit Washington State Beekeepers' Association bee/wasp identification page.  

Want to Get Rid of Yellow Jackets, Wasps, or Hornets?

Between Longview & Centralia, WA:

Carl Roush, 360 578 2018 (May through September).  Retired Lower Columbia College Biology Instructor Carl Roush seeks yellow jackets, wasps, & hornets - he works with a laboratory to process their venom to help those with allergies.   Click here for his card.

Between Centralia & Olympia, WA:

 Cascadia Venom Collection serves all of Thurston, and some of Lewis, Mason, Pierce and Grays Harbor Counties:  http://cascadiavenomcollection.com/

Email: freeremoval@cascadiavenomcollection.com

Phone:  (360) 866-1834

Need Bumblebees Removed?

Contact Honey Bee Allies: http://www.beeallies.com/contact/

Got Swarms?  Want Bees? Bee Prepared! 

Set up a bait hive! Nuc boxes make great bait hives. Insert frames with comb - or rub beeswax on fresh frames if you don't have old comb.  Some lemon essential oil may help, & possibly a little honey.  Conventional wisdom says to place your bait hive about ten feet up.  Of course, bees have minds of their own . . . and your nicely placed bait hive may sit lonely as the Maytag repairman while bees swarm into a tree or bush.  But it's worth a try, as many beekeepers do catch bees this way!

 

WATCH A VIDEO OF A COLONY REMOVAL:

To see a YouTube video by the Centralia Chronicle featuring LCBA's Past-president, Norm Switzler, & other Bee Team members removing a colony from the historic Salzer Valley Schoolhouse in Centralia, WA on July 19, 2009, click here.
 

Above, LCBA President Kevin Reichert leads an instructional colony carve-out; below, helpers Steve & Barb Grega took home this colony (photos, Jeanne Reichert):

Below, Jeanne leading the comb-pinning station: the carved out comb is carefully pinned &/or rubber-banded into frames, preserving both brood & food supplies for the bees to work from in their new homes:

Below, closeup of pinned comb:

 Above, Past-president Norm Switzler & new friends, Onalaska, July 2012; below, fitting extracted comb into frames.  It's important to preserve the original comb orientation so that larvae don't fall from brood cells, among other reasons.  To view a slideshow of different types of colony removals, click here; to learn more, see our April 2013 newsletter.



 Above, comb extracted from a barn wall near Winlock, Washington.

Above, mentor Gordon Bellevue teaches comb pinning at a removal workshop in Winlock, 2014; below, nicely pinned comb:

Below, capped brood, left, capped honey, right; in between are cells filled with "bee bread," a.k.a. pollen:

Below, runs of comb exposed when a roof panel was removed at this 2014 Winlock removal workshop:

Below, a closer look at the runs of comb. You can see capped brood in the farthest-back run:

Above, bees built comb on the outside of a pumphouse in Bucoda; below, the "Pump House Girls," close up: