Wyndham locals are being warned to look out for bee swarms now that spring has sprung.
The Werribeeks beekeeping group was established in 2017 and provides advice and support to beekeepers across Wyndham as well as members of the public.
Werribeeks president, Carmel Gerdsen said the latter was particularly important at this time of the year.
“As it’s spring time we want to bring awareness to the importance of swarm prevention and for the public, if they have a swarm, we’re there to help,“ Ms Gerdsen said.
While the amount of bee swarms in Wyndham is partly due to the traditional style of bee-keeping imported to the area by European migrants, Ms Gerdsen said spring time made them particularly common.
“Between the months of September and December, the bees focus is on reproduction which means making more bees, making new queen bees and creating swarms,” she said.
“The hive makes a new queen and the old queen leaves with half of the colony and that’s a swarm.
“Generally a swarm will not attack you, they’re just looking for a new home.”
Ms Gerdsen said while bee swarms are not as dangerous as many think, people should still take precautions if they encounter one.
“Stay calm, watch where they go and them if they can get a photo, report it on a website called swarmpatrol.com and any bee-keepers that have registered with swarmpatrol, we will get an alert to go and collect the swarm.”
As bees are regarded as livestock, all bee-keepers must be registered and follow Agriculture Victoria’s Codes of Practice.
For more information visit: werribeeks.org.au
Cade Lucas.
