Bumble bee nest re-location Wigan, Lancashire

Bumble bee problem?

We had lots of calls in the first half of June 2013 about unwanted bees. A few of these turned out to be mason bees. We had our fair share of bumble bee call-outs! Solitary bees, like mason bees, do not have a colony structure and are therefore not defensive of their simple nesting sites. However, whilst bumble bees are extremely docile, they will defend their colony if threatened. They might sting if provoked, but we always advise to let them “be” (excuse the pun), because they are very useful insects.

a bumble bee nest successfully re-located to a remote woodland area in the Wigan/Lancashire area

Sometimes the location of the colony is not acceptable to the house owner and re-location or destruction (unfortunately) of the colony is carried out. Re-location is possible if the colony is confined to for example a bird nesting box: We arrive when it gets dark, block the entrance hole(s), remove the nesting box and re-locate the colony to a sheltered spot in a woodland area with the land owners permission. Re-location is always done with safety in mind and in an area were the bumble bee colony is not likely to get into contact with residents and/or walkers.