Honeybees buzzing in new, safe home

A few weeks ago when the COVID-19 crisis came into full swing, I confronted a secondary crisis with the unwelcome visitation of hundreds of honeybees in my house. A swarm was finding entry underneath the exterior siding of the house and ultimately the interior. Honeybees are endangered yet are virtually harmless unless aggravated. They are needed in the pollination process, and of course, the production of honey is a by-product.

Interestingly enough, a friend told me that the very day I discovered the bees, she had read in this newspaper a letter to the editor from Brian Hamilton of the Tennessee Valley Beekeepers Association.

My call to him prompted him to come identify and confirm the type of bees, and put me in contact with the beekeepers who came with proper equipment and protective attire. During a fascinating, threehour process, they removed the bees and combs from my house.

Thanks to this free service by these experts, my house is bee-free, and the bees are in an appropriate place where hives can thrive.

Janet Reeve