The short version
Around Denver, honey bees usually swarm April through 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 Denver who has bees around the house and wants to handle it safely.
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. 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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Denver Bee Season Timeline
Seal eaves and paint bare wood before scout bees fly.
Peak swarm season; call early and ask about live removal.
Wall colonies grow; carpenter bees are drilling.
Seal gaps and clean up so bees don't move back in next year.
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 honey bee colony in the attic often announces itself with a hum on warm afternoons. Unscreened vents like this one are a common way in.Which bees show up around Denver.
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 Denver: swarms in spring, and colonies that move into walls. Eastern carpenter bees bore round holes in bare wood around Denver, especially eaves, fascia and decks. Bumble bees nest in the ground or old insulation.
Local bees conditions in Denver.
An inspection in Denver usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Denver'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 Denver and Colorado 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. Denver sits in a semi-arid climate, and that sets the pace for bee activity here: spring and summer (swarming and colony growth). For Denver 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.
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.
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. In older homes around Denver, check soffits, chimneys and gable vents first. Homes from Denver out to Commerce City and Lakewood 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 Denver.
- Fall: bumble bee colonies die off. Seal gaps once bees are gone. - Summer: highs near 88°F in Denver. Watch for honey stains on walls. - Spring: swarm season, April through June. - Winter: lows near 19°F in Denver. 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?
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
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.
Bees in Denver
A local provider who knows Denver and Colorado can point out the specific conditions that matter most here before you commit to a plan. For Denver homes, take a minute to note where you have seen activity and when it appears, so the inspection is faster and the quote more accurate. For Denver homes, most of the housing is urban, so the usual entry points, moisture spots, and sheltered areas near the structure are what an inspection checks first. Denver has a semi-arid climate, and bees activity here tends to pick up spring and summer (swarming and colony growth). In denser parts of Denver, colonies turn up in walls, soffits, signs and utility boxes. Winter lows near 19°F in Denver send honey bees into a tight cluster; they don't leave the nest. With about 14 inches of rain a year and summer highs near 88°F in Denver, spring bloom is steady and swarms are common.
Local research
Bees in Denver, CO: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which bees actually live in Colorado, when they are busiest around Denver, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Bee species recorded in Colorado
- 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…
When bees are busiest around Denver
March–June (swarms); AHB activity most of the year. Africanized bees dominate feral colonies in AZ, NM, NV, southern CA and southern UT. They 'swarm in the same manner but more readily, and not just in the spring', and USDA ARS notes AHB 'may swarm as often as every six weeks during swarm season'. Nests turn up in water meter boxes, block walls and irrigation valve boxes.
Based on Denver’s semi-arid climate profile.
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; Apidae: Bumble Bees (Bombus spp.) — Hortsense. 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.
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?
A summer honey bee colony can top 30,000 bees.
Honey bees beat their wings about 200 times a second.
Questions people ask
How much does bee removal cost in Denver?
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 Denver?
Usually April through 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.
Nearby cities
Related guides
Sources (9)
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