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The city of Talent, a designated Bee City USA, has developed a procedure designed to remove unwanted bee swarms without using lethal measures. “When people find a swarm, they are really scared to death of it, and they start spraying,” said Dolly Warden, coordinator of the town’s Bee City USA program. “We are trying to overcome that type of behavior. There are people that really want these bees.” Talent became the second Bee City USA in 2014 after Warden led the effort to help ensure that pollinators survive and thrive. Since then, Ashland has gained the title, Phoenix is applying for it, and Southern Oregon University is the first Bee Campus USA. “We’re trying to be a good Bee City,” said City Manager Tom Corrigan. The city will share the procedure with others. Already several other towns and the Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon dispatch center have listings of groups or people seeking to transplant swarms. “It’s good to see that agencies are getting on the same page,” said Warden. A formal policy was not adopted, but the City Council has been informed of the procedure. City crews do not spray pollinators. “There were just too many variables to have every possibility listed out,” said Corrigan. “It’s about private property, it’s about right of way, it’s about parks.” City officials reviewed the procedure with the town’s insurer, the bee groups and agencies that may receive calls. Swarms can be reported to City Hall, 541-535-1566, during business hours, or to Public Works, 541-535-3828, 24 hours a day. The non-emergency number for the dispatch center is 541-776-7206. “Any time it’s an emergency, like anaphylactic shock, that would be a 911 call,” said Corrigan. “If they find a hive and there’s removal desired, that would be a non-emergency call.” A small bee swarm was removed on Front Street earlier this month by a beekeeper, said Warden. Earlier a swarm near a day care center on Main Street was removed quickly, she said. Southern Oregon Beekeepers Association is participating and a local beekeeping training center called College of the Melissae takes on larger extractions, Warden said. Last fall they rescued an 18-inch-long, 100-pound colony on Gibson Street and in April they relocated a 10-foot length of tree trunk that housed a colony. Procedures vary in other cities: Ashland’s Police Department refers callers to the city website, where information can be found that includes a list of groups and agencies to contact about extraction.  Central Point keeps a list of beekeepers who can be contacted to remove swarms when the city receives reports. The city had two reports of bee swarms over the last two months, said Community Service Officer DerreckMoore. “Both times beekeepers responded within a couple hours,” said Moore. The city does not spray bee swarms, he said. Medford Public Works refers swarm calls to the Jackson County Extension Service. The department hasn't had a call on a swarm for several years, an employee said. Tony Boom is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Reach him at [email protected].