Bees Removed From a School Irrigation Valve Box in Murrieta, CA
A colony had moved into an in-ground irrigation valve box at a Murrieta elementary school. We removed the bees alive, caught the queen, and sealed the box — a careful removal on a school campus.
- Bees
- 2,000+
- Hive weight
- 5 lbs
- Queen caught
- Yes
- Difficulty
- 3 / 5
- Price range
- $300–$450
- Date
- July 2026
About This Job
This one was on a job site where getting it right really matters — an elementary school in Murrieta, where a colony had moved into an in-ground irrigation valve box on the grounds. Bees and a school are a combination you want handled properly and completely, not just knocked down.
The colony had built its comb straight through the valve wiring inside the box — you can see it wrapped around the blue and red irrigation lines in the photo. It was a younger, smaller hive, a couple thousand bees and about 5 pounds of comb, which kept it to a 3-out-of-5, but the wiring made it fiddly work. We removed the comb, relocated the bees alive, and caught the queen.
For a school, the prevention step is the important one: we sealed the openings on the valve box lid so the space can't be reused. A capped, sealed box keeps kids and bees safely apart.
- Location
- Elementary school — Murrieta, CA
- Removed from
- In-ground irrigation valve box
- Service
- Live Honeybee Removal & Relocation
- Price range
- $300–$450
On-Site Photos
Preventing the Next Swarm
“Seal off any openings on your valve box lids.”
How to keep it from happening again
- Seal every opening on valve and irrigation box lids — the small gaps for wiring and pipes are exactly where scouts get in.
- On school and commercial grounds, add ground boxes to the regular grounds-check; a small colony caught early is a quick, low-cost removal.
- Once a box is cleared, close it up completely so leftover comb scent can't attract the next swarm.
Bee problem in Murrieta?
We work Murrieta and the surrounding area regularly. See how we handle Murrieta bee removal — or reach out for a free quote.
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Don't let pests disrupt your peace of mind. Bee and wasp infestations can lead to property damage and safety concerns. We act swiftly to provide effective solutions that protect your home and the environment.