HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — If you’ve noticed more bees than usual buzzing around North Alabama this spring, you’re not imagining it. And if you spot a large cluster hanging from a tree, a fence or the side of your home, local beekeepers say the worst thing you can do is reach for the phone to call an exterminator.
Spring is swarm season, when thousands of bees leave an overcrowded hive and temporarily cluster together while they search for a new home. With bee populations in serious decline, beekeepers say those swarms are worth saving.
“Bees in a swarm that have just left their hive are usually very docile,” said Greg Freese, a local beekeeper. “An experienced beekeeper who shows up may just hop out with a box and scoop them off with his hands.”…