Bee colonies cleared from courthouse roof
Two large bee hives were removed from the Shackelford County Courthouse on Thursday, July 3, after being discovered high under the eaves of the building’s third floor. The removal was conducted by Sadie Grace Farms, a beekeeping company based in Abilene that specializes in humane relocation.
County Commissioner Ace Reames said the bees had likely been there for two to three months before the removal. The hives were located on the north and east sides of the courthouse, approximately 50 feet above ground. Reames said the location was familiar territory, as bees have previously built hives in the same area for decades.
“Bees can smell where there’s been a hive before,” Reames said. “That may have drawn them back, along with the fact that it’s a high, protected space where nobody’s likely to bother them.”
The county rented a 60-foot lift for the operation, which allowed the bee removal team to reach the eaves without driving equipment onto the courthouse lawn. The team from Sadie Grace Farms consisted of four people, two on the lift and two on the ground. The removal process began around 9 a.m. and continued until approximately 3 p.m.
“They were very thorough and took their time to do it right,” Reames said. “It wasn’t rushed, and you could tell they really knew what they were doing.”
The team carefully removed the honeycomb and placed it into boxes. The bees themselves were gathered into buckets, with as many as possible relocated during the process. On one side of the building, some of the bees had previously entered a hole in the corbel and nested partially inside the wall. That opening was sealed with a hard, putty-like material after the removal was complete to prevent future access.
Reames said the bees were identified as normal honeybees and posed no immediate danger to the public. None of the bees were harmed during the removal. Sadie Grace Farms allows members of its volunteer team to keep hives they help remove, and Reames said he believed at least one or two hives from the courthouse were taken home by volunteers.
