bee removal in Burnsville, MN

Most bee problems in Burnsville are honey bee swarms, wall colonies or carpenter bees. You'll also see what removal involves, and what it costs.

Burnsville, Minnesota cityscape
Burnsville at a glance
30 in.rain a year
70%average humidity
7°Ftypical winter low
83°Ftypical summer high
The short version

Around Burnsville, honey bees usually swarm May and June. Swarms are usually calm and often move on. Wall colonies need removal, ideally alive, comb and all. Carpenter bees just need the wood treated and painted.

  • Never seal a hole bees are using.
  • Wall colonies need the comb taken out.
  • Paint bare wood to deter carpenter bees.
  • Ask about live removal first.

Anyone in Burnsville who has bees around the house and wants to handle it safely.

What to look for

Spraying alone leaves comb and honey behind. A wall colony can reach tens of thousands of bees. Trouble starts when they move into a house. Most bees are helpful pollinators.

  • Bees streaming in and out of one gap.
  • A buzzing sound inside a wall.
  • Dark, sticky stains on a ceiling or wall.
  • A swarm hanging from a branch or fence.
  • Round, clean holes in eaves or deck boards.
  • Sawdust 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.
$75–$2,000Honeybee removal, U.S. estimateHomeAdvisor bee removal costs
$75–$500Carpenter-bee treatment, U.S. estimateHomeAdvisor bee removal costs
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What kind of bee problem do you have?

Treatment options and typical costs

Live Honey Bee Relocation

$150-$500

The bees are collected alive and moved to a hive.

Time
1-3 hours
Best for
Swarms and reachable colonies

Structural Hive Removal & Cleanup

$400-$1,500

The wall is opened and the bees and comb removed. Then it's cleaned and sealed.

Time
2-6 hours
Best for
Colonies inside walls, soffits or attics

Carpenter Bee Treatment

$200-$700

Holes are treated, then filled. Painting or staining the wood helps keep them away.

Time
1-3 hours
Best for
Round holes in bare wood

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

$200-$800

Sealing gaps, screening vents and follow-up checks.

Time
Seasonal plan
Best for
Keeping bees from moving back in

Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.

A crawlspace with a vapor barrier on the ground, a vent in the wall and a lantern for light
Crawlspace vents are easy for bees to use and easy to screen with metal mesh. Check them when you check the attic.

Which bees show up around Burnsville.

Eastern carpenter bees bore round holes in bare wood around Burnsville, especially eaves, fascia and decks. Bumble bees nest in the ground or old insulation. 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 Burnsville: swarms in spring, and colonies that move into walls.

Local bees conditions in Burnsville.

Across Burnsville, the area is mostly suburban, 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. An inspection in Burnsville usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Burnsville'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 Burnsville and Minnesota 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. Burnsville sits in a humid continental climate, and that sets the pace for bee activity here: spring and summer (swarming and colony growth).

A gloved hand shining a flashlight along the gap beneath a front door threshold
Bees get in through gaps most of us never notice: a loose threshold, a siding seam, a soffit joint. A walk around the house with a flashlight finds most of them.

Swarms: what to do.

Keep people back. 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.

Bees in the wall.

Don't seal the hole, and don't just spray it. Trapped bees may come into the house. The fix is a cut-out. Bees and comb come out, then the wall is closed. In older homes around Burnsville, check soffits, chimneys and gable vents first. Homes from Burnsville out to Bloomington and Richfield see the same entry points: soffits, vents and wall gaps. Steady traffic at one gap means a colony inside.

Carpenter bees.

Treat the holes, fill them, then paint the wood. 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.

A year of bees in Burnsville.

  • Spring: swarm season, May and June. - Winter: lows near 7°F in Burnsville. Honey bees cluster inside. - Fall: bumble bee colonies die off. Seal gaps once bees are gone. - Summer: highs near 83°F in Burnsville. Watch for honey stains on walls.

Bee, wasp or hornet?

  • Honey bee: fuzzy, golden brown, about half an inch. - Yellowjacket: bright yellow and black, nests in the ground. - Wasp: smooth, narrow waist, long legs. - Carpenter bee: like a bumble bee, with a shiny bare abdomen. - Bumble bee: big, fuzzy, black and yellow.

If you get stung.

An antihistamine eases itching. 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.

Live removal: what it involves.

The bees go to a managed hive. 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.

What to tell the removal company.

  • Where the bees go in and out. - A photo or short video, taken from a safe distance. - Whether anyone at home is allergic. - Any stains, sounds or smells inside. - How long you’ve noticed them. - How high up the spot is.

Ground bees in the lawn.

They leave within a few weeks. 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.

Keeping bees from moving back in.

  • Remove all old comb. Its scent draws new swarms. - Repaint or restain bare wood every few years. - Cap open pipes, posts and fence rails. - Screen attic, gable and crawl vents. - Seal the entry gap once the bees are gone.

Where colonies settle.

  • Chimneys: a cap with screen keeps swarms out. - Hollow trees and fence posts: often fine to leave. - 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.

Can I just spray them?

Pesticide labels also limit spraying around bees. 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.

Kids, pets and bees.

Dogs stung in the mouth or throat need a vet quickly. Keep pets away from swarms and wall entrances. Teach kids to stay calm and walk away from bees. Cover sweet drinks outside.

When a swarm shows up.

Keep people and pets back. Most move on within a day or two. 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.

Questions to ask before you sign.

  • What kind of bee is it? - How will you seal the entry afterward? - Who repairs the wall or soffit? - Will you take out all the comb and honey? - Will you remove the bees alive?

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

Call if bees use a gap in your walls or roof. if a swarm hasn't moved on in a few days. right away if anyone in the house is allergic.

What you can do yourself

A beekeeper or removal specialist can often save the bees. Swarms and wall colonies are not. Treat, fill and paint. Carpenter bee holes are a fair DIY job.

Bees in Burnsville

In Burnsville's neighborhoods, swarms land in trees and shrubs, and colonies move into soffits and walls. Winter lows near 7°F in Burnsville send honey bees into a tight cluster; they don't leave the nest. With about 30 inches of rain a year and summer highs near 83°F in Burnsville, spring bloom is steady and swarms are common.

Local research

Bees in Burnsville, MN: what the public record shows

Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which bees actually live in Minnesota, when they are busiest around Burnsville, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.

55,000 colonies
Honey bee colonies, January 1, 2026 (operations with five or more colonies)

Managed hives are the source of the spring swarms that end up in homes and trees; the state table is on page 7 of the report.

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
2 percent
Colonies lost, January–March 2026

Percent of maximum colonies lost during the first quarter of 2026 in this state.

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

Bee species recorded in Minnesota

  • 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…
  • Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) — Social native bees; 'Nests are initiated by a single female (queen) in the spring' in 'a small cavity like an abandoned rodent burrow' (WSU). They 'can sting multiple times; sti…
  • Rusty patched bumble bee (federally endangered) (Bombus affinis) — 'listed as federally endangered in 2017' (USFWS). States listed are those named in the Xerces Society range description; Xerces reports the species 'declined from an estimated 8…
  • Ground-nesting (mining) bees (Andrena, Colletes, Halictidae and others) — 'About 70% of native bees nest in the ground' and 'Most ground nesting bees are harmless and not aggressive' (Ask Extension). Small soil mounds appear in thin, dry lawn areas fo…

When bees are busiest around Burnsville

Bumble bee queens can emerge very early in mild years ('On March 3, 2024, we saw the first record of emergence for the common eastern bumble bee', UMN); ground-nesting bees mound in lawns in spring.

Minnesota is core rusty patched bumble bee range; identify before treating any bumble bee nest.

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: Honey Bee Colonies (August 2026); CDC MMWR; Apidae: Bumble Bees (Bombus spp.) — Hortsense; Rusty Patched Bumble Bee; Underground 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.
A clipboard checklist, a flashlight, a tape measure and a floor plan on a wooden desk
Before you call, jot down where the bees go in, how long you've noticed them and whether anyone at home has a sting allergy. That is enough to get a useful answer.

Did you know?

Honey bees communicate the location of flowers with a “waggle dance.”

One worker bee makes about 1/12 teaspoon of honey, lifetime.

Questions people ask

How much does bee removal cost in Burnsville?

A swarm pickup is often $75–$250. Wall colonies cost several hundred dollars or more, plus repairs.

Can honey bees be moved instead of killed?

Often, yes. Swarms and many wall colonies can be removed alive.

A swarm landed in my yard. What should I do?

Swarms are usually calm and move on within days. A local beekeeper may collect it.

Should I seal the hole where bees are going in?

Remove the colony and comb first. They may get into the house. Sealing traps the colony inside. No.

What happens if comb is left in the wall?

It can melt in summer heat and stain walls. It also draws ants, beetles and moths.

Are carpenter bees dangerous?

They do bore into bare wood, so paint or stain it. Males can't sting, and females rarely do. Not really.

When do bees swarm in Burnsville?

Usually May and June. A warm, sunny spell after bloom often sets it off.

Do bees come back after removal?

They can, if comb stays or the gap isn't sealed. The scent of old comb draws new swarms.

How much does it cost to remove Africanized honeybees?

Across Burnsville, one hundred to $1,000 is HomeAdvisor's 2026 benchmark for removing Africanized honeybees, and local prices vary.

Nearby cities

Related guides

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

Ask about bee removal or a quote.

Tell us what you’ve noticed.

  • Where you’ve seen bees or damage
  • When you first noticed it
  • Anything you’ve already tried