It’s swarm season in Chattanooga, TN! Swarm season started mid-March this year and despite the incessant rain, myself and other beekeepers are still getting swarm calls. In this blog I attempt to answer common questions and calm some fears relating to swarms.

If you’ve just seen a large, buzzing cloud of bees gathering in a tree or clustered on a fence post, take a deep breath—you’ve likely witnessed one of the most fascinating and harmless events in nature: a honeybee swarm. I get messages like yours every spring and summer, and the first thing I always want people to know is this:

Swarms aren’t dangerous.
They’re not attacking, chasing, or angry. They’re simply on the move—relocating from one home to another, guided by a queen and a remarkable sense of purpose. I am not saying you will not get stung because you most definately can. Sometimes bees are more stressed like-if they’ve been there for a while, if their queen died, and if the weather is bad. It’s always appropriate to approach with caution. The people you see on TikTok walking up to thousands of bees with no gear have already vetted the colony. It’s easy to tell if a colony is more defensive by walking up to it and seeing if any of them tell you to go away.

During a swarm, bees are usually at their calmest. They have no brood or honey to defend, and they’re focused solely on finding a new place to live. That buzzing you hear is excitement, not aggression.

So, what should you do? Mostly—nothing. Give them space. Don’t spray them. Don’t swat. Let them settle and while you are watching this miracle of nature get out your phone and call your friendly neighborhood beekeeper. The benefit of contacting a beekeeper is the colony has a higher chance of two things-1. Living and 2. Not moving into someones home or a nearby building.

Honeybee swarms are a sign of a healthy, growing colony. They’re not a threat—they’re a natural wonder. Take a moment to listen to the buzz of thousands of wings because it might be your only chance! Read this article from Food As A Verb that shares how they got to witness a honeybee swarm while interviewing me.

Swarming is a Natural, Healthy Process

Swarming is a completely natural and essential part of a honeybee colony’s life cycle. It’s how healthy hives reproduce: when a colony becomes large and crowded, about half the bees—including a queen—will leave in search of a new home. The swarm may briefly gather (this is called a bivouac) on a tree branch, fence post, or mailbox while scout bees search for a suitable location.

In Chattanooga, Tennessee, swarming season typically runs from March through July, when the weather warms and nectar sources are abundant. Seeing a swarm is a sign that local bee populations are thriving and that colony made it over winter, which is great news for pollination and the environment.

What Should I Do If I See A Swarm?

Don’t freak out! Don’t SPRAY THEM OR ATTEMPT TO KILL THEM. In 2025 it is not necessary to be so misinformed and ignorant (yes, I said that) that you need to kill an entire colony of bees. You might want to do some resarch about how honeybees pollinate 70 of our 107 global crop commodities, making them invaulable to our food supply.

Contact a beekeeper immediately! Have a name and number saved in your phone so you don’t have to search for one when you need it. I tell people to save my name as “Beekeeper” in their phone so they don’t have to remember my name during swarm season. Colonies have a better chance for survival if a beekeeper is contacted quickly. We can provide them with shelter, food (if needed), and water. Swift action saves you and your neighbors the threat of the colony deciding to live inside the eves of your home. If someone nearby has antiphallic reactions to honeybee stings keep them indoors and keep an EpiPen nearby, as you probably already would.