Swarm lists by state
South Dakota
South Dakota runs a formal Apiary Program through the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, reflecting how important beekeeping and interstate bee movement are in the state. For most residents, the key current pages are DANR’s apiary program and registration pages, plus SDSU Extension guidance on what to do when a swarm appears.
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
- South Dakota Beekeepers Association
- Africanized honey bees
- not established
Official resources in South Dakota
Main official South Dakota apiary page with the State Apiarist, forms, laws, and links to inspection, permits, and Africanized-bee information.
Explains registration, spacing rules, import requirements, inspections, and the purposes of the state apiary program.
Official online portal South Dakota beekeepers use for apiary registration and compliance functions.
SDSU Extension page that explains honey-bee swarming and advises residents to contact local apiarists for relocation.
Official association page with state-by-state bee-removal links, including a South Dakota link.
Key facts for South Dakota
- Bob Reiners is listed as South Dakota’s State Apiarist on the DANR Apiary Program page. (SD DANR)
- All apiaries, including hobbyists, must register with DANR by February 1 each year or within 10 days of obtaining bees. (SD DANR)
- Commercial apiaries must be at least three miles from the nearest commercial apiary. (SD DANR)
- Bees entering South Dakota need an entrance permit and a health certificate from the state of origin. (SD DANR)
- SDSU Extension says swarming honey bees are generally docile and should be removed by local apiarists. (SDSU Extension)
- DANR’s Africanized-bees brochure says Africanized honey bees are unlikely to survive South Dakota winters. (SD DANR)
What to do next
- If you keep bees in South Dakota, register your apiary through DANR and note the February 1 annual deadline.
- If a swarm lands on your house or car, keep people back and contact a beekeeper through the ABF swarm-removal page or another local apiarist rather than spraying.
- If you plan to bring bees into South Dakota, start with DANR’s entrance-permit and health-certificate requirements before shipment.
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