Welcome back! Tonight’s mission at the Bee Sanctuary was one for the record books. We headed out to rescue a swarm that had recently moved into a heavy, industrial-style metal flowerpot.

The Quickest Win Yet

Usually, we’re battling stripped screws, structural voids, or 10-foot ladders. But this time, the owner mentioned the swarm had just landed.

• The Assessment: Because they were new arrivals, we didn’t expect much comb at all. This meant we could bypass the heavy cutting and get straight to the extraction.
• The Clock: From the moment we suited up to the final bee in the bee vac, it took maybe 15 minutes. It’s officially the fastest removal we’ve ever completed on our journey from 3 to 300!

Small Swarm, Big Potential

Even though it’s a “tiny” swarm, every colony counts.

• The Relocation: We’re transporting them straight to the Kyalami Apiary.
• The Setup: Because they are so small and have zero established comb, we’re putting them into a nucleus (nuc) box rather than a full 10-frame brood box. This smaller space helps them maintain their temperature and build out their first few frames of wax much more efficiently.

Every Removal is a Lesson

Even a “simple” 15-minute job is a great reminder: sometimes you get lucky with a fresh landing! Getting these bees into a safe managed environment before they start building heavy comb in a metal pot is a win for the bees and the homeowner.

Want to see our “speed-run” removal in action?

I’ll be posting the highlight reel soon, so make sure to subscribe and hit the like button! We are moving fast toward our goal, and every sub helps us save more colonies.

Quick Poll: Do you prefer the high-adrenaline structural removals or these quick “catch-and-go” garden rescues? Let me know in the comments!

How should we proceed? Should we do a follow-up on this nuc box in a week to see their first comb, or are you ready for our next technical wall rescue?