Swarm lists by state
Alabama
Alabama has both a statewide beekeeper association with county-level removal contacts and a state Apiary Protection Unit inside the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries. As of June 30, 2025, Alabama also had a confirmed Africanized honey bee detection in Barbour County, so residents should use official removal contacts rather than disturb swarms themselves.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Swarm or bee removal list
- Official page →
- State beekeepers association
- Alabama Beekeepers Association
- Typical swarm season
- March to June
- Africanized honey bees
- limited/south only
Official resources in Alabama
Statewide official association page with local clubs, education, and bee-removal links.
County-by-county swarm-removal contact list published by the Alabama Beekeepers Association.
Official state apiary program page for inspectors, laws, registration, and health-certificate guidance.
Alabama Cooperative Extension overview of seasonal management, swarming pressure, and backyard beekeeping expectations.
Official state notice about the confirmed 2025 Africanized honey bee detection and public guidance.
Key facts for Alabama
- The Alabama Beekeepers Association says it can help residents find certified swarm or structural bee-removal specialists.
- ADAI's Apiary Protection Unit page lists Brittaney Allen as Alabama's State Apiarist.
- Alabama law requires beekeepers to register colonies and apiaries with the Commissioner by October 1 each year.
- ADAI says Alabama's No Comb Law bans importing bees on comb, including colonies and nucleus colonies, into the state.
- ADAI confirmed Africanized honey bees in a feral swarm in Barbour County on June 30, 2025.
- Alabama Extension says swarming pressure is highest in spring and early summer, when inspections should be every two weeks.
What to do next
- If you see a honey bee swarm, do not spray or disturb it; use the ABA county swarm list to contact a remover.
- If you keep bees, review ADAI's Apiary Protection Unit page for registration, inspector contacts, and import rules before buying bees.
- If bees seem unusually aggressive, report it to ADAI rather than attempting removal yourself.
Helpful guides
- What to do when you see a honey bee swarm
- A swarm vs. an established hive: why it matters
- Honey bees, wasps or yellowjackets? How to tell
- Bee cutout and hive removal cost