Bees in Shed: Safe Removal Tips
Finding bees in your shed can be a surprise—and sometimes a stressful one. Whether you're grabbing gardening tools or organizing supplies, discovering a buzzing colony can bring up immediate concerns. At The Other Bee Guy, we specialize in humane bee removal and relocation, and we've helped countless homeowners handle these exact situations. In this guide, we'll walk you through why bees are attracted to sheds, the risks associated with an unexpected hive, and the safe and professional approach to resolving the issue without harming these vital pollinators.
Why Bees Are Attracted to Sheds
Bees don't randomly pick a place to nest. Sheds offer the perfect environment for a thriving beehive. They're quiet, undisturbed, and often warm, especially in the spring and summer months when bees are actively expanding their colonies.
We often find bees settling into the corners of sheds, behind stacked boxes, inside walls, or even in the ceiling space. These areas provide shelter from wind and predators, allowing the hive to expand without immediate disturbance. If your shed has small cracks or openings, bees can enter unnoticed and begin building combs quickly. Once the queen is in and laying eggs, the colony can grow to thousands of bees in a short period.
It's important to remember that not all bees in your shed are aggressive or dangerous. Most are simply doing what bees do—pollinating, building, and protecting their hive. However, as the hive grows, the risk of unwanted interaction increases, especially if you use the shed regularly.
Understanding the Risks of Beehives in Sheds
While bees are essential to our environment, a hive in your shed can pose several issues. First and foremost, there’s the danger of stings, especially for anyone allergic or sensitive to bee venom. Disturbing the hive—even by accident—can lead to defensive behavior from the bees.
Another risk is structural. As the bees build their hive, wax and honey can start to affect the materials inside your shed. If left untreated, we’ve seen hives break down wood, attract rodents or other pests, and even leak honey through walls or ceilings.
There’s also the chance of swarm activity. Swarming is how bees reproduce and expand their colonies, and it can cause sudden bursts of activity near your home. This is especially true in spring when many sheds become prime real estate for scout bees searching for new nesting grounds.
If you're noticing increased bee traffic around your shed or a low buzzing sound from the walls, you might already have a colony forming. That’s when it’s time to take action.
Why You Should Avoid Trying to Kill Bees in a Shed
We often get this question: “How do I kill bees in my shed?” And we always give the same answer—we strongly advise against it.
At The Other Bee Guy, we prioritize safe removal and relocation, not extermination. Bees are a critical part of our ecosystem, and many species—including honeybees—are facing declining populations due to habitat loss, pesticides, and disease. Killing a hive not only harms the local environment but also puts you at serious risk. DIY solutions, such as sprays, foams, or setting fire (yes, we’ve heard it all), can backfire quickly, especially in enclosed or flammable spaces like sheds.
Instead, our trained team uses a proven step-by-step approach to remove the bees, protect the colony, and relocate them to a safe and controlled environment. Many of the hives we rescue are transferred to our bee yards using secure transport boxes or moved to nucleus colonies like the ones we maintain here: bee nucs and nucleus.
For anyone wondering what to do instead of killing the bees, we recommend checking out our whole process here: our process.
What Makes a Bee Shed Different from a Beehive Infestation
Not all sheds with bees are considered infestations. Some individuals intentionally keep beehives—structures explicitly designed to house and maintain managed hives for honey production or pollination. These are typically well-ventilated, secure, and designed with beekeeping practices in mind.
But if you’re not a beekeeper, and bees have taken over your shed on their own, that’s a different story. A wild hive or colony in your toolshed or garden shed is typically not managed, which means it can grow unchecked and lead to unpredictable behavior.
We often get called out to remove hives from sheds where the owner had no idea bees had moved in. By the time they notice, the hive is already large and active. That’s why early detection and professional support matter.
If you're unsure whether you have a bee shed or a problem hive, we can help assess the situation to determine the best course of action. Simply visit our contact page to schedule an inspection. And if you’d like to see how others have resolved their shed bee problems with our help, check out some of our recent reviews.
Interested in local honey from rescued colonies? You can also explore our small-batch offerings here: local honey.
Need help right away? Visit our bee removal or bee relocation pages to learn more and request service.
How We Safely Remove Bees from Sheds
When you call The Other Bee Guy, you're not just getting rid of bees—you're partnering with professionals who prioritize safety, conservation, and long-term solutions. Our approach to removing bees from a shed is humane, environmentally conscious, and designed to preserve the hive whenever possible.
We begin with a thorough inspection of your shed and the surrounding area to identify the entry points, the size of the colony, and the location of the hive. Once we’ve assessed the situation, we begin the gentle extraction process. This typically involves carefully opening walls, ceilings, or crevices where the bees have established their hive.
Using specialized bee vacuums and containment boxes, we remove the bees without harming them. Our team is equipped with protective gear and trained techniques that keep both you and the bees safe. Once the bees are secure, we remove the honeycomb, clean any residue, and offer suggestions for sealing off future access points.
The colony is then transported to one of our managed apiaries or placed into a nucleus colony, which provides a stable environment for the bees to continue thriving. You can learn more about our relocation practices on our bee hive relocation page.
Our goal isn’t just to get the bees out of your shed—it’s to ensure they have a new home, and that you can safely reclaim your space.
Preventing Future Bee Infestations in Your Shed
After removal, many homeowners ask us how they can prevent bees from returning. While there’s no guaranteed way to keep all bees away forever, there are several proven steps you can take to discourage them from nesting again.
First, seal up any small holes, cracks, or openings in your shed walls, roof, and foundation. Bees only need a small gap to enter and begin building. Use caulk or expanding foam to close off these entry points, especially around windows, vents, and doors.
Second, avoid storing items in the shed that may attract bees, such as old wax, wood piles, or sweet-smelling garden supplies. Bees are especially attracted to certain scents and materials they use for building or feeding.
Third, conduct seasonal checks of your shed, especially in the spring and early summer when bee swarms are most active. If you notice increased bee activity near your shed, don’t wait. Contact a professional immediately.
And if you’ve previously had a hive removed, keep an eye on that same area. Bees often return to the same spots year after year, especially if a queen’s pheromones are left behind. Part of our service includes neutralizing those scents to reduce the likelihood of re-infestation.
Reclaim Your Shed Without Harming the Bees
Bees are a vital part of our ecosystem, but they don’t belong in your storage space. At The Other Bee Guy, we understand the balance between respecting nature and protecting your property. Our bee removal and relocation services are designed to resolve the issue without resorting to harmful chemicals or extermination methods.
If you've found bees in your shed—or you suspect a hive might be forming—reach out to us today. We're here to guide you through the process, answer your questions, and safely relocate the bees to a location where they can continue to thrive without posing a threat to your home.
Visit our contact page to schedule your inspection or call us directly for urgent removals. You can also learn more about how our relocation process works on the our process page.
And remember—when it comes to bees in your shed, safe and humane removal isn’t just the right thing to do. It’s the smart thing to do.
Want to see how we’ve helped others with bee problems? Check out real stories and testimonials on our reviews page.
Looking for something sweet? Our rescued bees produce some of the best local honey around—available here: local honey.