Tintinhull beekeeper Phill Moore asks people to respect bees' safety as they become more active

Heightened activity from the little buzzing pollinators is to be expected, and while this can raise alarm bells for some, locals are being reminded bees need protecting, not exterminating.

Tintinhull Honey Tamworth's Phill Moore is a long-time resident and has been a beekeeper for four years.

He said the start to this year's peak bee season has been "intense".

"We expect the number of swarms in the area to rapidly increase over the coming weeks," Mr Moore said.

"We have received already a surprising large number of calls to assist with swarms in unwanted locations."

But he said that's not a bad thing, as a healthy number of bees is good for the ecosystem, and every call to him is one less call to a pest exterminator.

He said the best course of action is to leave hives or swarms, where possible.

READ ALSO:

"If you are lucky enough to see a swarm that is moving, or has landed up and is not in a harmful location, please try to not disturb the event," he said.

"Stay clear of the swarm, stand back and keep an eye on them from a distance. Do not spray or try to brush them away."

Mr Moore said bees aren't typically aggressive, so leaving them alone is the best way to avoid getting stung.

Of course, if that's not possible because a swarm or hive has formed in an area that is prone to heavy human traffic or otherwise inappropriate, he is asking people to get in contact with a beekeeper so it can be safely removed.

"Many beekeepers will remove these swarms as a community service," he said.

"They capture and re-home the bees in a hive where they can continue to do their vital work of pollinating plants and crops.

"We want people to know that the option to contact a local beekeeper is fundamentally the right thing to do before pest control is considered."

To find a local beekeeper, visit the Amateur Beekeepers Association NSW website and type in your postcode.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: