swarm-list Mailing List: Officially the management discourages using ladders to try to get bees that are up high, particularly in trees.

[Gerald Przybylski (gtp000000]

    Ladders are dangerous enough to workmen who are trained in using
    them!  
    My employer required me to take a Ladders Class. I think part of the
    objective was discouraging me from using them
    even though I'm a farm kid that grew up around stuff like that. 
    
    During the Swarm program I did last Tuesday I emphasized that we
    discourage even mentioning ladders 
    since for swarms on branches the bucket pole usually extends one's
    reach enough to get them. 
    
    Some swarms will just get away.  That's OK.  The wild/feral
    population is pretty much recovered  to the pre 1987 levels. 
    The club will have over 400 swarm calls to handle this year.   It's
    really OK if a few get away. 
    
    Club management pointed out that a fall resulting in an injury would
    not be a good thing for the club's insurance. 
    We don't want to visit you in the hospital either. 
    
    So please avoid using ladders.  Please avoid suggesting ladders. Be
    creative in different ways. 
    
    thanks
    jerry

On 3/13/26 12:49 PM, Alan Pryor via swarm-list wrote:

I seem to recall mention of banging on a pot to get the swarm down during Jerry's presentation Tuesday evening. Has anyone tried that in the last 50 years?🤔

On Fri, Mar 13, 2026, 12:24 PM Gabriel Harber via swarm-list <swarm-list [at] alamedabees.org> wrote:

Yeah… that is high.  You could do it with an extension ladder.  Or an 8 foot ladder and a long pole and bucket.  But anyway you look at it, this is a challenge.  Not impossible, but not an easy one.  

Gabriel

510-967-6244

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On Mar 13, 2026, at 12:20 PM, Robert L Mathews via swarm-list <swarm-list [at] alamedabees.org> wrote:

This is almost certainly the same one I tried and failed to get last evening (if it's on Hillegass). It's actually higher than 25', and unlikely to be gettable unless someone has a bucket truck, or a very long pole/bucket setup:

<IMG_0170.jpeg>

I told the original caller it was best to just wait for them to move on, and let us know if they settled somewhere closer to the ground.

On Mar 13, 2026, at 12:13 PM, Gabriel Harber via swarm-list <swarm-list [at] alamedabees.org> wrote:

Two swarms on thick branch of oak tree overhanging the street around 25’ off the ground.  Pole and bucket or whatever method you deem safe.  Bring two boxes.  This one should be an adventure.  

Near Euclid and Cedar in North Berkeley.

Gabriel

-- 

Robert L Mathews

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Safety first! No swarm is worth risking injury to self, or host.
Make sure you're familiar with the swarm catching guidelines at
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Safety first! No swarm is worth risking injury to self, or host.
Make sure you're familiar with the swarm catching guidelines at
<https://www.alamedabees.org/swarm-catching-guidelines/>.

To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options, to learn how
to filter these messages, or to view the archives, see:
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Safety first! No swarm is worth risking injury to self, or host.
Make sure you're familiar with the swarm catching guidelines at
<https://www.alamedabees.org/swarm-catching-guidelines/>.

To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options, to learn how
to filter these messages, or to view the archives, see:
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