Bumble bee colonies are temporary. They die off naturally every fall, which means the fastest, safest approach is often just waiting them out. A colony that appears in spring will be gone by the first frost, and the nest won’t be reused the following year. If you can’t wait, there are effective ways to encourage them to leave without killing them, which matters because several bumble bee species are now endangered and their populations are declining nationwide.
Make Sure They’re Actually Bumble Bees
Before you do anything, confirm what you’re dealing with. Bumble bees are large, round, and covered in fuzzy hair, typically black and yellow or black and white. They nest in the ground, often in abandoned rodent burrows, and a colony might house 300 to 600 workers at peak size in mid-summer. If you’re seeing bees hovering near wood structures like decks, eaves, or fences, those are likely carpenter bees. Carpenter bees have smooth, shiny bodies and bore into wood to nest. They’re mostly harmless (males can’t even sting), but they require a completely different approach.
Yellow jackets also nest in the ground and are far more aggressive than bumble bees. They’re sleeker, with smooth bodies and a narrow waist. If the insects are showing up uninvited at your food or drinks, you’re probably dealing with yellow jackets, not bumble bees.
Why Waiting Is the Best Option
Bumble bee colonies last less than one year. A queen emerges from hibernation in spring, builds her colony through early summer, and by mid to late summer the colony produces new queens and males. As fall arrives and flowers dwindle, the old queen, all her workers, and the males die. Only the newly mated queens survive, and they leave to hibernate somewhere else. The nest is abandoned permanently.
If you discover a nest in August, you’re likely only weeks away from it shutting down on its own. Even a nest found in June will be empty before winter. This is the single most effective “removal” strategy: do nothing and let the natural cycle run its course.
Bumble bees are not aggressive unless their nest is directly disturbed. The University of Minnesota Bee Lab recommends simply placing garden fencing or chicken wire around the nest entrance. This keeps people and pets from accidentally stepping too close without interfering with the bees. It’s cheap, takes five minutes, and solves the safety concern immediately.
How to Encourage Them to Relocate
If the nest location makes coexistence genuinely impractical, you can make the area less appealing so the bees move on.
- Soak the ground: Bumble bees prefer dry, well-drained soil. Running a sprinkler or hose over the nesting area for several days in a row disrupts those conditions and can prompt the colony to relocate.
- Cover bare soil: Bumble bees avoid thick vegetation. Planting grass seed in bare patches or laying down a heavy layer of mulch makes the area inhospitable for nesting.
- Seal rodent holes: Old rodent burrows are prime bumble bee real estate. Filling these holes in early spring, before queens emerge from hibernation, prevents colonies from establishing in the first place.
If the bees are nesting in your siding and finding their way into your basement, locate the entry point on the interior wall and plug it immediately to keep them out of your living space. The exterior hole in the siding should be sealed after the first frost or two, once the colony has naturally died off. Plugging the exterior hole while the colony is active can trap bees inside your walls.
Natural Scent Deterrents
Several strong scents discourage bumble bees from lingering in outdoor living areas. Peppermint oil is the most commonly cited. A simple spray made from water, a few teaspoons of liquid castile soap, several drops of peppermint oil, and a pinch each of cinnamon and cayenne pepper can be applied around doors, windows, deck railings, and patio furniture. Other essential oils that bees tend to avoid include eucalyptus, citronella, clove, lemongrass, and tea tree.
These sprays won’t destroy a nest or force an established colony to leave. They’re best used as perimeter deterrents to keep bees away from the specific spots where you eat, sit, or walk. Reapply after rain.
When Professional Removal Is Necessary
If a nest is directly under a high-traffic doorway, inside a wall, or near someone with a known bee allergy, professional help makes sense. Contact a local beekeeping association first. Hobby beekeepers are often equipped to handle bee removal and will prioritize keeping the colony alive. Many state beekeeping organizations have online request forms for this exact situation.
Moving a bumble bee nest has a high failure rate even when done by experienced handlers, so professionals may recommend the fencing-and-waiting approach rather than relocation. If you suspect the species might be a rusty patched bumble bee (identifiable by a reddish-brown patch on its back), do not attempt removal yourself. This species has been federally protected under the Endangered Species Act since 2017, and intentionally destroying its nest is illegal. University bee labs will often identify species from photos if you’re unsure.
Preventing Nests Next Year
Since colonies don’t reuse old nests, prevention is about making your yard less inviting to queen bees scouting for new sites in early spring. Fill in any rodent burrows you find over winter. Keep lawn areas thick and well-vegetated, especially in dry, sandy patches where ground-nesting bees prefer to dig. Seal gaps in siding, foundation walls, and soffits before queens emerge in spring.
That said, bumble bees are among the most efficient pollinators alive. They’re critical for tomatoes, peppers, cranberries, and a long list of wildflowers. Nine bee species are currently listed under the Endangered Species Act, including two bumble bee species, with several others under review. If a nest is somewhere you can tolerate it for a few months, leaving it alone is genuinely the best outcome for your garden, your local ecosystem, and the bees.
What to Do if You Get Stung
Bumble bee stings produce a sharp, burning pain with swelling, redness, and itching at the site. Remove the stinger quickly by scraping it with a fingernail or the edge of a credit card. Don’t use tweezers, which can squeeze more venom into the skin. Ice the area and take an over-the-counter antihistamine if the itching is bothersome.
In rare cases, a sting triggers a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms include hives spreading beyond the sting site, swelling of the tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, and dizziness. These are signs of anaphylaxis and require emergency medical care immediately.