Swarm picked up at McDonalds!

[jardiniere28]

I got a swarm call at 8:50 PM today... at the McDonalds on NW Yeon. when I asked how high up of the ground it was, they responded "about 5 feet".

Well, I got there with my outfit, my small lidded metal garbage can, my tulle and my clippers and saw.... it was in a tree 15 feet above the ground in the drive thru!!!

They brought me out a puny ladder and my clippers weren't the right size for the branch, so I had to shake them in (which I hate). It was a sloppy swarm, all spread out over the branch, not nice and tidy in a ball like the playbook says!

So, lesson learned... next time I'm going to ask them how high over their heads it is... and bring all my tools.

They are tucked away in bed in a nice new hive with sugar water. Hopefully it wasn't too brutal a collection and they'll stay.

[alisafaulk]

The drive through way to go!

Seems like more probing questions is key to swarm removal. I had a similar experience yesterday when I got a call from a pest control company to pick up a "swarm" on the lower eves of a house about 10 feet up, which turned out to be a handful of scout bees checking out some new diggs. A couple weeks ago did a swarm that was supposed to be at eye level, but was about 15 feet up a tree!

Lesson learned.

[jardiniere28]

Yes, it's crazy how people have no idea how to judge distance!!!

I had a swarm call today from a guy with apartments in N.E. Portland. He says this one is 30 feet up on the side of the building and he has a ladder that will reach. He says he noticed them on Friday last. I passed, but told him I'd pass the message along. His name is Mark and his phone is 503-257-6050 if there are any takers.