Swarm lists by state
Michigan
Michigan’s main public beekeeping contacts are the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), Michigan State University’s pollinator/beekeeping resources, and the Michigan Beekeepers Association. For swarm help, the best statewide list I found is MBA’s county-based swarm-removal list; for regulatory questions, MDARD’s apiary inspections page is the key state page.
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
- Michigan Beekeepers Association
- Typical swarm season
- May to June
- Africanized honey bees
- not established
Official resources in Michigan
Official statewide beekeepers association with links to swarm removal, bee clubs, and member resources.
County-based contact list for honey bee swarms that are loose and not living in structures.
State program page for Michigan apiary inspections, movement/shipping guidance, and inspection certificates.
Michigan State University page with beekeeping articles, webinars, and other extension resources.
Current hosted copy of Michigan’s apiary law, including definitions and state authority over bee disease and harmful strains.
Key facts for Michigan
- MDARD says Michigan apiary inspections are authorized by Apiary Law, Act 412 of 1976, and inspections are optional.
- MDARD says Michigan does not maintain a beekeeper registry and does not require a beekeeping license.
- MBA’s swarm-removal page is for loose honey bee swarms; bees living in houses or other structures are referred to a cut-out list.
- Michigan’s Apiary Law defines African or Africanized bees as an exotic strain not known to be present ordinarily in Michigan.
- Michigan’s Managed Pollinator Protection Plan says the state has not had an apiary registration program since 1993.
- MSU/Michigan beekeeping materials I found point to typical swarm pressure in May and June.
What to do next
- First confirm they are honey bees, then use MBA’s swarm-removal list and start with your county plus neighboring counties.
- If bees are inside a wall, soffit, or tree cavity, use MBA’s cut-out/removal guidance instead of the loose-swarm list.
- If you need to ship bees or want an inspection certificate, use MDARD’s apiary inspections page before moving colonies.
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