Save the Swarm: A Bee Found Urban Rescue Program
Protect Pollinators. Prevent Infestations. Empower Veterans.
Each spring, thousands of honeybee swarms lift off in search of a new home. Without intervention, many end up in attics, walls, sheds—or worse, exterminated. At Bee Found, we believe there’s a better way.
Save the Swarm is an urban rescue and prevention program designed to safely relocate honeybee swarms before they take up residence in unwanted places. We're deploying collapsible swarm traps throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area, giving bees a safe place to land—and giving people an easy way to get help when they do.
How It Works
We place collapsible swarm traps in neighborhoods, parks, and greenspaces across the city.
Each trap is labeled with a weatherproof QR code and contact info for local beekeepers.
When a swarm moves in, anyone can scan the code or call the number.
A local beekeeper—many of them military veterans—comes to collect the swarm and replace the trap.
It’s quick. It’s humane. It saves bees and saves homeowners from expensive removal services.
Why It Matters
Swarms are natural—but can cause real damage. If bees enter a home or building, removal can cost thousands. Our traps catch swarms early—before they move in.
Bee colonies are collapsing at historic rates, with average loss of 62% between June 2024 and February 2025—the highest on record. Every swarm saved helps rebuild resilient bee populations.
Veterans lead this mission. Bee Found provides therapeutic beekeeping training and gear to veterans with PTSD. This project gives them a direct role in pollinator recovery.
Pilot Program: St. Louis 2026
We’re starting with our own backyard. The St. Louis metro area will host the first 300+ traps in this program. We’ll track:
Traps placed vs. swarms collected
Bee colony recovery data
Reduction in local infestations
Veteran involvement and hours volunteered
Public engagement via QR code scans
The results will help us expand to more cities and neighborhoods next year.
Help Us Save the Swarm
Each trap costs just $40, plus $2 for the durable QR code sticker. Your donation directly funds trap production, outreach, and swarm retrieval by our team of veteran beekeepers.
🟡 $42 = One complete swarm trap placed and monitored
🟡 $84 = Two traps = two swarms saved
🟡 $420 = Ten traps placed across an entire neighborhood
Your support saves bees, protects homes, and gives purpose to the veterans behind the mission.
Donate or Sponsor a Trap
Want to sponsor traps in your neighborhood or business area? Want to help as a property host or volunteer? Email us at info@beefound.org or visit our funding page to make a donation.
Let’s make St. Louis safer for bees—and better for all of us.