The short version
A swarm pickup in Montgomery is often $75–$250. Wall colonies cost several hundred dollars or more, plus repairs. Carpenter bee work is usually $100–$500.
- Wall colonies cost several hundred dollars or more.
- Ask whether repairs are included.
- Live removal costs more but saves the bees.
Homeowners and renters in Montgomery with a swarm, a wall colony or carpenter bees.
What to look for
Most bees are helpful pollinators. Trouble starts when they move into a house. A wall colony can reach tens of thousands of bees. Around Montgomery, honey bees usually swarm March through May. Spraying alone leaves comb and honey behind.
- 1Bees streaming in and out of one gap.
- 2A buzzing sound inside a wall.
- 3Dark, sticky stains on a ceiling or wall.
- 4A swarm hanging from a branch or fence.
- 5Round, clean holes in eaves or deck boards.
- 6Sawdust under holes in bare wood.
Why it’s worth acting soon
- Wall colonies grow larger every season.
- Comb can melt and leak honey into walls.
- Old comb attracts ants, beetles and moths.
- Carpenter bee tunnels get longer each year.
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Estimate bee removal cost in Montgomery
Adjust for your situation to see a ballpark range.
Estimated range
A rough guide only. Wall colonies and repairs cost more.
Treatment options and typical costs
Inspection and Species Identification
$75–$200
A visit to identify the bee and find the colony.
- Time
- 45–90 minutes
- Best for
- Every job
Carpenter Bee Gallery Treatment and Wood Repair
$100–$500
Holes are treated, then filled. Painting or staining the wood helps keep them away.
- Time
- 1–3 hours plus sealing
- Best for
- Round holes in bare wood
Sealing, Repair and Follow-Up Checks
$150–$450
Sealing gaps, screening vents and follow-up checks.
- Time
- 2–4 hours plus a return visit
- Best for
- Keeping bees from moving back in
Live Swarm Capture and Relocation
$75–$250; beekeepers may charge less
The bees are collected alive and moved to a hive.
- Time
- 1–3 hours
- Best for
- Swarms and reachable colonies
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
A few bees appearing indoors, especially near a sink, a fan vent or a light fixture, often means a colony in the wall has found a gap to the inside.What bee removal costs in Montgomery.
- Sealing, Repair and Follow-Up Checks: $150–$450 - Carpenter Bee Gallery Treatment and Wood Repair: $100–$500 - Inspection and Species Identification: $75–$200 - A typical home in Montgomery is worth around $140k, and honey leaking into a wall can cost far more than removal. Swarm season around Montgomery runs March through May, and spring is the busiest time to book. - Live Swarm Capture and Relocation: $75–$250; beekeepers may charge less
Local bees conditions in Montgomery.
An inspection in Montgomery usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Montgomery's seasonal timing lets you schedule treatment before the busy stretch rather than after it, which usually means faster service and a more accurate quote. A provider who works Montgomery and Alabama every day can point out the specific conditions that matter most here, and getting the scope, price, and follow-up terms in writing makes it easier to compare options. Montgomery sits in a humid subtropical climate, and that sets the pace for bee activity here: spring and summer (swarming and colony growth). For Montgomery homes, the area is mostly urban, so bees pressure can differ from one block to the next depending on how tight the entry points are and how much food, water, or shelter is close by.
Fall is the easiest time to seal gaps along the foundation and siding, once bee traffic has slowed and before next spring's scouts start looking.Which bees show up around Montgomery.
Their colonies die off each fall. Small ground-nesting bees in spring lawns are harmless. They're best left alone. Honey bees are behind most calls in Montgomery: swarms in spring, and colonies that move into walls. Eastern carpenter bees bore round holes in bare wood around Montgomery, especially eaves, fascia and decks. Bumble bees nest in the ground or old insulation.
Swarms: what to do.
It's usually calm and moves on within days. Scouts are hunting for a new home. A swarm is a colony on the move. a beekeeper or removal service. Keep people back.
Bees in the wall.
The fix is a cut-out. Bees and comb come out, then the wall is closed. Many homes around Montgomery have crawl spaces, and colonies sometimes settle there too. Homes from Montgomery out to Prattville see the same entry points: soffits, vents and wall gaps. Steady traffic at one gap means a colony inside. Don't seal the hole, and don't just spray it. Trapped bees may come into the house.
Carpenter bees.
They drill round, half-inch holes in bare wood. Carpenter bees look like bumble bees with a shiny, bare abdomen. Painted wood is far less attractive to them. Treat the holes, fill them, then paint the wood.
A year of bees in Montgomery.
- Fall: bumble bee colonies die off. Seal gaps once bees are gone. - Summer: highs near 93°F in Montgomery. Watch for honey stains on walls. - Spring: swarm season, March through May. - Winter: lows near 36°F in Montgomery. Honey bees cluster inside.
Bee, wasp or hornet?
- Wasp: smooth, narrow waist, long legs. - Carpenter bee: like a bumble bee, with a shiny bare abdomen. - Bumble bee: big, fuzzy, black and yellow. - Honey bee: fuzzy, golden brown, about half an inch. - Yellowjacket: bright yellow and black, nests in the ground.
If you get stung.
Wash the area and use a cold pack. Scrape the stinger out quickly with a fingernail or card. 911 for trouble breathing or a swollen face or throat. An antihistamine eases itching.
Live removal: what it involves.
Then they cut out the comb. They open the wall and gently vacuum the bees. A specialist finds the colony, often with a thermal camera. Then the space is cleaned, sealed and closed. The bees go to a managed hive.
What to tell the removal company.
- Whether anyone at home is allergic. - Any stains, sounds or smells inside. - How long you’ve noticed them. - How high up the spot is. - Where the bees go in and out. - A photo or short video, taken from a safe distance.
Ground bees in the lawn.
They're gentle and rarely sting. Small bees over bare spring lawn are usually mining bees. Thicker grass and regular watering make the lawn less inviting. They leave within a few weeks.
Keeping bees from moving back in.
- Cap open pipes, posts and fence rails. - Screen attic, gable and crawl vents. - Seal the entry gap once the bees are gone. - Remove all old comb. Its scent draws new swarms. - Repaint or restain bare wood every few years.
Where colonies settle.
- Grill covers and unused equipment: check in spring. - Meter and irrigation boxes: small, dark and dry. - Sheds and garages: gaps under eaves and doors. - Attics: gable and soffit vents are common entries. - Chimneys: a cap with screen keeps swarms out. - Hollow trees and fence posts: often fine to leave.
Can I just spray them?
Dead bees and comb stay inside, rot, and leak honey. Still, spraying a wall colony usually backfires. Honey bees aren't federally protected. Live removal is usually the better choice. Pesticide labels also limit spraying around bees.
Kids, pets and bees.
Keep pets away from swarms and wall entrances. Teach kids to stay calm and walk away from bees. Cover sweet drinks outside. Dogs stung in the mouth or throat need a vet quickly.
When a swarm shows up.
They have no hive to defend. Swarming bees are usually calm. In spring, a swarm may hang from a branch or fence. A beekeeper may collect it. Keep people and pets back. Most move on within a day or two.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- Who repairs the wall or soffit? - Will you take out all the comb and honey? - Will you remove the bees alive? - What kind of bee is it? - How will you seal the entry afterward?
Ways to keep the cost down.
- Paint bare wood to prevent carpenter bees. - Ask a local beekeeper about swarms. - Call early, before a colony settles in a wall. - Compare what each quote covers.
What affects the price
- Swarm pickup versus a colony inside a wall.
- How high the bees are, and whether a lift is needed.
- Opening and repairing walls, soffits or ceilings.
- Comb and honey cleanup.
- Number of carpenter bee holes.
- Whether bees can be removed alive.
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What’s your biggest bee concern?
When to call for help
right away if anyone in the house is allergic. if a swarm hasn't moved on in a few days. Call if bees use a gap in your walls or roof.
What you can do yourself
Carpenter bee holes are a fair DIY job. Treat, fill and paint. Swarms and wall colonies are not. A beekeeper or removal specialist can often save the bees. Never seal a hole bees are using.
Bees in Montgomery
In denser parts of Montgomery, colonies turn up in walls, soffits, signs and utility boxes. Winter lows near 36°F in Montgomery send honey bees into a tight cluster; they don't leave the nest. With about 53 inches of rain a year and summer highs near 93°F in Montgomery, spring bloom is steady and swarms are common.
Local research
Bees in Montgomery, AL: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which bees actually live in Alabama, when they are busiest around Montgomery, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Bee species recorded in Alabama
- Western honey bee (European honey bee) (Apis mellifera) — Managed colonies are surveyed by USDA NASS in the listed states; swarms leave hives in spring and move into wall voids, chimneys, and trees. If a colony is killed and not remove…
- Africanized honey bee (Apis mellifera scutellata hybrids) — Visually indistinguishable from European honey bees; far more defensive and swarm more often. 'They entered Texas in 1990, Arizona and New Mexico in 1993, and California in 1994…
- Eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica) — Large black-and-yellow bee with a shiny bare abdomen that bores round, about 1/2-inch tunnels into unpainted softwood trim, decks, fascia and railings. 'There is only one specie…
When bees are busiest around Montgomery
Spring swarm season; carpenter bees active from late winter.
UF/IFAS lists Alabama among states where African honey bees had been found 'As of 2012'.
Rules that apply in Alabama
For context, nationally
- 788 deaths (an average of 72 deaths per year) — Sting deaths, hornets/wasps/bees, 2011–2021. CDC MMWR
- 84% — Share of sting deaths among males, 2011–2021. CDC MMWR
Sources: CDC MMWR; Honey Bee Colonies (August 2026); African Honey Bee, Africanized Honey Bee, Killer Bee (EENY-429 / IN790); Carpenter Bees. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources
Simple ways to keep bees away
- Seal gaps in soffits, vents and siding before spring.
- Screen attic and crawl vents.
- Paint or stain bare wood to deter carpenter bees.
- Fill old carpenter bee holes after treatment.
- Remove old comb so new swarms aren’t drawn in.
- Keep empty bee boxes and hives closed up.
After a removal, the old entrance gets screened and sealed. The smell of comb draws new scouts, so this step is what keeps bees from moving back in.Did you know?
Honey bees communicate the location of flowers with a “waggle dance.”
Bumble bee colonies die each fall. Only the new queens survive the winter.
Questions people ask
What is the typical cost to remove bees from a wall?
Usually several hundred dollars, sometimes more than $1,500 for big colonies. Repairs to the wall may be extra.
How much does a swarm capture cost?
Often $75–$250. Some beekeepers collect swarms for less, or free.
Does the price include repairing the wall or soffit?
Often not. Ask whether the quote includes closing the wall.
What does carpenter bee treatment cost?
Usually $100–$500, depending on the number and height of holes.
How do I prevent bees from moving into my house?
Plug old galleries so they cannot be reused. For carpenter bees, the answer is finished, painted wood. Scout bees look for a quarter-inch opening into a hollow, so seal soffit gaps, vent screens, and rafter tails on your home. Prevention in Montgomery is mostly carpentry and caulk.
A swarm landed in my yard. What should I do?
State and county beekeeping associations often keep swarm lists, and many pros on this site handle swarm calls as well. A beekeeper can box the cluster in an hour. Swarms in Montgomery rarely sting because they have no home to defend. Keep kids and pets at a distance, then make a call.
Are bees in my wall dangerous?
If anyone in the home is allergic, treat the situation as urgent and keep them away until a pro has removed the colony. Do not mow, hammer, or pressure wash near it. Stay ten or fifteen feet from the entry in Montgomery and most colonies will ignore you. Bees defend a nest, not a yard.
How much does it cost to remove Africanized honeybees?
For Montgomery homes, homeAdvisor's 2026 benchmark is $100 to $1,000, and this is not a job to attempt yourself.
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Sources (10)
The facts in this article come from the public sources listed above. Every home is different, so ask the company you talk to about pricing and what’s included. Published by Beehive Removal · Updated September 11, 2026 · How we write these guides