How to Get Rid of a Bees Nest In a Wall Cavity

Many homeowners have followed a buzzing sound only to make an unpleasant discovery: Bees set up shop in a wall cavity, often the space between interior and exterior home walls, gaps behind a brick wall or façade, and similar spots. Learning how to get rid of a bee's nest in a wall cavity is an option, but for safety purposes, your best bet is to hire a bee removal professional. 

Let’s review your options for bee removal, what works best, and when to hire a pro.

Why Do I Have Bees in My Walls?

In nature, many types of bees seek out the inside of a hollowed tree or a similar covered location that offers protection from the elements. The inside of your home’s walls can offer many of the same benefits, which is why bees find their way into gaps that access wall spaces, attics, crawlspaces, and other locations.

When bees “swarm” or split off to form a new hive, they may come across an easily-accessed wall cavity and set up shop permanently. As part of the process, they may make their way indoors exploring for food. It’s important to catch them quickly, or they will build up their hive and make the problem much worse.

Additionally, other species like hornets and wasps look for holes in home foundations or roof access points where they can build nests. Some bee species may be more likely to build hives in the eaves or a nearby location, but they can still cause problems.

Prepping to Remove Bees from a Wall Cavity

Before devising a plan to remove a bee’s nest from your home, it’s important to understand the type of bees and how they’re entering your home. 

Identify the Bee Type

Isolate one of the bees, living or dead, and take some close-up photos of it with your phone. You can compare pictures online or send photos to experts to get more information before making further decisions. Some bee species, like honeybees, are relatively harmless, making them much easier to deal with. Other species of bees are invasive or very aggressive, and it’s more important to clear them out quickly while keeping your home protected.

Locate the Access Point

Track your bees and see exactly how they are entering the wall. Are there gaps or holes in your exterior walls? Bees and wasps can be creative when entering wall cavities, and you may find exterior holes that you didn’t know about. If possible, try to determine the size and location of the hive. It may be hidden by the wall, but any clues to its size will be helpful.

How to Get Rid of a Bees Nest in a Wall Cavity

If you notice buzzing sounds in the walls or find stray bees in your home, it’s time to take action. Here are your most effective options.

Contact a Local Beekeeper or Bee Removal Professional

If bees are local or largely harmless—like honeybees—your first stop should be a local beekeepers group or business. Local beekeepers will often offer their services to relocate the bees without destroying the hive, so both you and nature benefit. They will be eager to help if it’s a more valuable bee species like honeybees, but that doesn’t mean beekeepers work for free. You can expect to pay a service fee, as well helping with tasks like cutting sections of the wall if necessary. If your research showed that you have a dangerous, aggressive type of bee or a wasp’s nest instead, skip the beekeepers and contact local pest control instead.

Cut Out The Hive

If you need to remove the nest quickly, you can choose to cut it out completely. This method works best on wooden walls and drywall where you can cut out the nest and take it away with a handsaw, jigsaw, or similar tools. Again, you should not attempt to handle bees on your own as they may sting you.

Bees will resist the removal of their nest, which is why professionals combine this method with a bee smoker or similar option to render the bees docile. Extensive protective equipment, including a bee suit, is still highly recommended. It’s important to completely cut down all parts of the hive and any beeswax. Beekeepers use a framing tray and other select tools during this process.

Set Up a Trap Out Cone

A bee trap out device is a more DIY-friendly option compared to cutting the beehive out—as long as you have enough time. This is a cone-shaped trap set over a primary hive entrance, then tapered to a tiny open about the diameter of a standard pencil. Trap-outs can be made of wire mesh or other easily moldable materials. This trap-out device encourages the bees to leave the nest but makes it very difficult for them to get back inside. Professional bee removal services can install hive lures to draw bees away from the hive through the trap-out.

A trap out requires patience. It can take months of waiting or frequent trips with a hive lure to get results. You need to ensure that all other entrances are sealed except those contained by the trap out, which isn’t always easy. 

Vacuum Out the Bees

This DIY method is less viable to get rid of bees, but may work with a very new hive with minimal bees. It requires modifying a standard shop vacuum to keep bees inside the vacuum canister. Then, cut an access hole to the hive and vacuum away until all the drones are caught and you can safely dispose of the hive.

The problem with vacuuming is that it’s hard to capture the bees safely, and the bees will get very angry in the process. Beekeepers have a far safer bee vacuums they use to transport stray bees, but they’re typically used along with other removal methods.

Use a Pesticide, If Absolutely Necessary,

A wasp and hornet pesticide is a last recourse against very aggressive bee species. Many of these pesticides are sprays that you can apply from a distance directly to the nest to destroy it completely. For hives hidden away in walls, you’ll have to find the right angle of approach and wear protective equipment.

Pesticides can be dangerous to use near or inside your home, so take all necessary precautions and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. You will also need a plan to dispose of the hive and dead bees when you’re finished. Those dead bodies can rot and cause other issues if they are left in a wall cavity.

How to Prevent Bees From Nesting In Your Walls

These maintenance steps will help keep your home bee-free (without getting rid of your flower beds).

• Remove traces of past bees: If you recently removed a bee hive, clean up the remnants of the dead bees. Wash the sections of the walls thoroughly. 

• Seal cracks and gaps in the exterior walls and roof: If bees can’t get inside, they’ll move along. Check your insulation, exterior walls, eaves, or roof for signs of gaps. Caulk and foam insulation can solve many of these issues or you can hire a pro to inspect it for you.

• Look for holes or damage in masonry, bricks, and foundation: Bees and wasps often enter through small holes that can be difficult to notice. Search masonry for holes and weak spots where they may be finding ways in. Block these holes to prevent future problems.

• Clean up trash: Leaving trash and debris in your yard invites inquisitive insects looking for places to set up a hive or nest. Keep your yard clear, especially near walls and foundations, to discourage bees from setting up residence.

• Cover chimneys and vents with screens: Chimneys and vents are some of the most common ways that bees or wasps get inside your home. Make sure your chimney is properly capped, and cover any exterior vents with screens.

• Keep your shed closed: Don’t give bees easy access to your sheds. Keep the doors tightly closed when not in use, and don’t leave windows open for extended periods of time. If your shed doors have large gaps, consider replacing them or adding weather stripping.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

We highly recommend hiring a bee removal professional for a hive extraction, especially if it’s inside your home. These bee pros have the experience, equipment, and tools to get the job done, and can often help relocate the beehive. Contact local beekeepers or bee associations to learn more. If you have a problem with aggressive bees or wasps, you may also want to ask for a pest control visit.

Bee removal costs are similar to other pest control fees. You can expect to pay between $150 to $500, depending on the size and location of the hive. Beekeepers may charge you a lower price than average, but they aren’t likely to do it for free.