Using a power mower near a honey bee nest?

If they are Honey bees sometimes local bee keepers remove them for free and add them to their own collections, Check yellow pages or the net to see if there are any local to your area.

You don’t have Africanized Bees or it wouldn’t make a difference. Your bees are evidently the European variety. You are below their flight pattern. So mowing will not be a problem. The only caveate is to make sure the mower doesn’t throw debris up around the entrance. Cut so that the clippings are thrown away from the house and away from the bees. Early morning or late day would further reduce your chances of stirring them up. They quit early and start late. The flowers and the bees follow the same schedule. Some flowers like the Linden or Basswoods get so many bees in them when they are in flower you can hear them before you see them. Some flowers are most nectar filled in the morning. Some, very few comparatively ,are late day nectararians. If you watch their flights you will soon learn when they are most active because of the available forage. Mow when it is slack. Beekeepers like to have woodenfences between them and their neighbors because the incoming bees will stay eave high and never come in contact with those people who live next the the fences on the other side away from the hive.

When you are ready or feel it is necessary to remove the bees contact your county extension office. They will have a list of beekeepers who will remove the bees.

I am the main contact for our area. I built a vacuum operated extractor to help in the removal of bees in cramped areas, like inside houses. The bees are sucked into a holding area prior to entering the vacuum cleaner. None are killed or injured. I have several interchangable boxes so I can examine the bees as they are captured. I want to certain I have the queen. The wind created by the vacuum seems normal so the bees don’t even get excited in the process. I take enough honey to make certain the bees can make it through the winter with their cache. I explain to the people how to extract the honey from the combs they are given that are extra. When their friends have bee problems, I get the call. Occassionally there is no extra honey. Sometimes I have to make up feed to get them through the winter.

You should have no trouble with your bees if you follow the simple rules of keeping out of their flight pattern and don’t throw anything against the guard bees at the holes entrance. They don’t want to waste time stinging you. They’ve got a hive to maintain.