SWARM TRAP EXCHANGE PROGRAM
"HANG A BOX. SAVE A SWARM. TASTE THE REWARD."
Why Do Honeybees Swarm?
Every spring and summer, honeybees naturally swarm as a way of reproducing and expanding their colonies. When a hive becomes too crowded, the old queen and nearly half the workers leave in search of a new home. This often results in a large, buzzing cluster of bees gathering on a tree branch, fence post, or even near a home. While swarms may look intimidating, honeybees are usually at their calmest during this stage since they are focused on finding shelter, not defending a hive.
How We Help the Bees
How You Can Get Involved
At Fingerlakes Honey Company, we give these bees a chance to settle safely by using swarm traps. A swarm trap is a small hive box designed to mimic the kind of space bees look for in nature. By hanging traps in areas bees are likely to scout, often wooded or semi-wooded land, we can catch swarms before they try to move into inconvenient or unsafe places. This not only helps protect the bees but also keeps them from nesting in buildings or other unwanted areas.
Do you have wooded acreage in Cayuga County, New York with safe and easy access? If so, you can join our Swarm Trap Exchange Program.
In return for hosting a trap, you’ll receive:
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🐝 One free pound jar of our first spring harvest honey
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📝 A personal thank you card
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🌿 Acknowledgement on this page (desktop only)
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🌞 The satisfaction of knowing you provided a safe new home for honeybees!
Why It Matters
By hosting a swarm trap, you are not only helping local bees survive but also strengthening the ecosystem. Honeybees pollinate many of the crops and wild plants in our region. When you provide a safe home for them, you’re directly supporting healthier gardens, farms, and food supplies in Cayuga County and the Fingerlakes.
Contact Us
👉 Contact us today to learn more or to sign up as a host site for a swarm trap.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need to maintain the trap? No, we handle all placement, maintenance, and removal of the traps. All you provide is a safe location.
Will the bees be a danger to my family or pets? Swarming bees are usually very docile since they have no hive to defend. Once they move into the trap, we carefully relocate them to our managed hives.
How long will the trap be on my property? Traps are placed during the swarming season (spring through early summer). Once the season is over or a swarm has been collected, we remove the trap.
What kind of location is best for a trap? Bees prefer quiet, partially shaded areas near woods or tree lines with minimal human or pet traffic. Easy access for us to check the trap is also important.
Can I host more than one trap? Yes! If your property is suitable, we may be able to place more than one trap.
OUR 2020
SWARM LIST
2020-
8 swarms caught
Participants-
Andy
Doug
Randy
Rob
Thank you to our 2020 Swarm Trap Exchange Program Participants!
OUR 2023
SWARM LIST
2023-
11 swarms caught
Participants-
Doug
Randy
Jim
Steve
Drew
Jim 2
Thank you to our 2023 Swarm Trap Exchange Program Participants!
OUR 2021
SWARM LIST
2021-
11 swarms caught
Participants-
Andy
Doug
Randy
Rob
Jim
Scott
Jason
Rich
Thank you to our 2021 Swarm Trap Exchange Program Participants!
OUR 2024
SWARM LIST
2024-
8 swarms caught
Participants-
Doug
Randy
Jim
Steve
Drew
Jim 2
Thank you to our 2024 Swarm Trap Exchange Program Participants!
OUR 2022
SWARM LIST
2022-
5 swarms caught
Participants-
Doug
Randy
Jim
Brent
Thank you to our 2022 Swarm Trap Exchange Program Participants!
OUR 2025 SWARM LIST
2025-
4 swarms caught
Participants-
Doug
Randy
Jim
Steve
Drew
Jim 2
Ross
Mike
Thank you to our 2024 Swarm Trap Exchange Program Participants!