Maryland: Swarm lists by state

Maryland has a statewide beekeepers association with a county-filtered swarm retrieval list, and the Maryland Department of Agriculture runs the official apiary inspection and colony-registration program. University of Maryland Extension also directs residents with swarms to local beekeepers and notes that in-wall colonies usually need a different kind of removal. ([mdbeekeepers.org](https://www.mdbeekeepers.org/swarm-retrieval-list/))

Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.

Official resources in Maryland

Maryland State Beekeepers Association, Inc.

Statewide association site for Maryland beekeepers, meetings, announcements, and public help pages including swarm reporting. ([mdbeekeepers.org](https://www.mdbeekeepers.org/))

MSBA Swarm Retrieval List

County-filtered list of Maryland beekeepers who retrieve swarms, with a sortable column for in-wall removal. ([mdbeekeepers.org](https://www.mdbeekeepers.org/swarm-retrieval-list/))

Maryland Department of Agriculture — Apiary Inspection

Official state page for apiary inspection, colony registration, and the State Apiarist/Chief Apiary Inspector. ([mda.maryland.gov](https://mda.maryland.gov/plants-pests/pages/apiary_inspection.aspx))

University of Maryland Extension — Honey Bees

Official UMD Extension guidance on identifying honey bees and what Maryland residents should do when they find a swarm or wall colony. ([extension.umd.edu](https://www.extension.umd.edu/resource/honey-bees))

Key facts for Maryland

Maryland law requires anyone who keeps bees to register colonies within 30 days of getting them, and then annually thereafter. ([mda.maryland.gov](https://mda.maryland.gov/plants-pests/pages/apiary_inspection.aspx))
MDA lists Cybil Preston as Chief Apiary Inspector and State Apiarist on its Apiary Inspection page. ([mda.maryland.gov](https://mda.maryland.gov/plants-pests/pages/apiary_inspection.aspx))
MDA says Maryland has over 2,300 beekeepers and roughly 18,700 colonies. ([mda.maryland.gov](https://mda.maryland.gov/plants-pests/pages/apiary_inspection.aspx))
MSBA’s Swarm Retrieval List can be filtered by county and sorted by “Also In-Wall-Removal.” ([mdbeekeepers.org](https://www.mdbeekeepers.org/swarm-retrieval-list/))
MDA annual reports say Africanized honey bees are handled through monitoring/eradication efforts at the Port of Baltimore, including onsite eradication of swarms. ([mda.maryland.gov](https://mda.maryland.gov/Documents/15mda_ar.pdf))
UMD Extension says most honey bee swarms can be handled by contacting a local beekeeper, but in-wall colonies usually require a pest-control company. ([extension.umd.edu](https://www.extension.umd.edu/resource/honey-bees))

What to do next

If the bees are clustered outdoors in a temporary ball, use the MSBA Swarm Retrieval List, filter to your county, and contact a listed retriever quickly. ([mdbeekeepers.org](https://www.mdbeekeepers.org/swarm-retrieval-list/))
If bees are inside a wall, sort the MSBA list by “Also In-Wall-Removal”; if no one is available, UMD Extension says a professional pest-control company may be needed. ([mdbeekeepers.org](https://www.mdbeekeepers.org/swarm-retrieval-list/))
If you keep honey bees in Maryland, register your colonies with MDA within 30 days and renew annually. ([mda.maryland.gov](https://mda.maryland.gov/plants-pests/pages/apiary_inspection.aspx))

Helpful guides

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