Swarm lists by state
Washington
Washington has a statewide beekeeper association, a Washington State Department of Agriculture apiary registration program, and a Washington State University swarm-help page with county contacts. For a resident dealing with a swarm, the most useful current official pages I found are WSU’s county swarm list and WASBA’s swarm and local-club pages.
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
- Washington State Beekeepers Association (WASBA)
- Typical swarm season
- April to June
- Africanized honey bees
- not established
Official resources in Washington
County-by-county Washington swarm-control contacts maintained by Washington State University.
Official state page for apiary registration, deadlines, and Washington apiary laws and rules.
Official association guidance for residents who find a honey bee swarm and need local help.
Interactive list of member clubs across Washington for classes, identification help, and swarm-catching contacts.
Official WSDA page explaining honey bees in Washington and how they fit within the state’s bee fauna.
Key facts for Washington
- WSDA says all Washington beekeepers, backyard or commercial, must register hives each year; registration is due April 1.
- WSDA says a current Washington apiary registration expires December 31 each year.
- WSU’s Washington swarm-contact page says its county list was updated in April 2025.
- WASBA says swarm finders should not use insecticide or call an exterminator; local beekeepers can often relocate swarms.
- WSDA says honey bees are not native to Washington State.
- I found no official Washington source saying Africanized honey bees are established in Washington; available official materials point to non-establishment.
What to do next
- If you find a cluster of bees, first use WSU’s county swarm page to locate a nearby Washington contact or club.
- If you keep bees in Washington, register your hives with WSDA and review the current apiary laws before spring buildup.
- For local help, use WASBA’s club map to find the nearest association for swarm response, classes, and area-specific advice.
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