Frequently Asked
Questions

About a third of global crop production by volume comes from crops that benefit from animal pollination (Klein et al., 2007). Bees are among the most important of those pollinators, and wild bees also pollinate many native plants.

Several pressures act together: habitat loss, pesticides, the parasitic Varroa mite, disease, and climate. Managed honey bee colonies also suffer heavy losses: U.S. beekeepers lost 55.6% of managed colonies from April 2024 to April 2025 (Auburn University / Apiary Inspectors of America).

There are over 20,000 bee species worldwide. Honeybees are a single managed species kept in hives by beekeepers primarily for honey production and crop pollination. Native bees — including mason bees, leafcutter bees, and bumblebees — are wild pollinators that evolved alongside local flora and are often far more efficient pollinators of native plants. See our bee species guide for detailed profiles.

No. Honey bees are not endangered: USDA counted 2.81 million U.S. colonies on January 1, 2026, up 6% from a year earlier. Some wild bees are at real risk. More than a quarter of North American bumble bee species face some degree of extinction risk (Xerces Society / IUCN), and the rusty patched and Franklin’s bumble bees are federally endangered.

Live bee removal is free. If a colony is inside a wall or other structure, we'll explain what's involved, including any repair or other costs, before any work starts.

Call us and we'll tell you when we can get there. A swarm clustered in the open is usually quicker to collect than an established colony inside a wall, which takes more planning.

Swarms are generally quite docile. When bees swarm, they are in transit between hive locations and have no comb or brood to defend. A resting swarm will usually move on within 24–72 hours. Still, we recommend keeping people and pets at a safe distance and avoiding agitating the cluster.

We move them to a new home away from the removal site instead of killing them. If you would like to know more about where a colony went, ask us.

Tell us. Leftover scent and open gaps can draw bees back, so sealing entry points matters. We can talk through what to do next at your property.

We serve the greater Sacramento area, including Roseville, Folsom, Elk Grove, Auburn, and surrounding communities in the foothills and valley. If you are unsure whether your location is in range, submit a report and we will follow up.

A hive sponsorship is a donation that helps cover care for the colonies we look after. See our Sponsor a Hive page, and email us to ask what's available today.

Yes. Apply through our volunteer page or email us at [email protected], and we will let you know what is available right now.

We offer hands-on pollinator lessons for Sacramento-area classrooms. Email us to ask what is available for your school.

You can donate, sign up to volunteer, or share what you learn about bees with people you know. A pot of native flowers on a balcony can help too.

Zeffy charges us no platform or card fees. Gifts are unrestricted unless you designate them, and they help cover bee rescue and relocation, native habitat plantings, and school lessons. Like every charity, we also have basic operating costs. If you would like budget information, email [email protected].

Please check with us first. We describe ourselves as a 501(c)(3) public charity, and our EIN is 93-1556974. Our EIN did not appear in the IRS public listing when we last checked on 2026-10-16, so please ask us for our determination letter and talk to your tax adviser before claiming a deduction. Zeffy emails you a receipt for your records.

Zeffy charges us no platform or card-processing fees. At checkout Zeffy asks you for an optional tip to Zeffy itself, which you can set to $0. It does not reduce your gift to us.

Yes. Choose a recurring option in our Zeffy donation form. You can change or cancel a recurring gift through the link in your Zeffy receipt.