Bee Rescues

My bee scenario: Thursday early evening, I see a mass of bees hanging in a tree that wasn’t there 48h ago. I frantically try getting a good reference from friends via Facebook for a person/​company that will relocate them. Fearing it’ll be too late to get anyone lined up, I turn to the internet. My first couple tries yield full voicemail boxes and no one answering a phone. Then I try Craigslist. I found this St. Pete-​based beekeeper posted some ads saying to text and he would get back asap, providing he isn’t knee-​deep in bees. Well, a quick text with the size and location of the buzzing situation, and the phone is ringing within 5 minutes.
8a.m. the following day, Jeffrey rolls up. Sign a waiver and all that jazz, and he is super excited over this hive. First of all, it doubled in size overnight. He said they were just getting into the wax-​building, and gave a heads up that there’s a huge hive somewhere nearby because of how quickly this thing grew. After he got up close to take photos of the unusual placement and shape, he got to work. He trimmed the branch off and got it placed into a portable hive. The stray bees pretty much followed the hive into the box, and I was told to watch the area and make sure they don’t set up shop again. If they do, he has a guarantee where he will come back and collect them for free. Right now there’s maybe 15 – 20 buzzing around the tree, but they’ll find a new home soon enough.
For the less than 24h turnaround, the relocation of the 6lb hive/​several thousands of European honey bees, and a guarantee for a few weeks, it was $ 150. Some of the quotes I saw by other companies in the area were insane, but this dude does it for the love of bees. Also, he’s insured and licensed. I would definitely recommend this guy to my St. Pete area friends needing bee-​buddy removal/​relocation.