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It’s spring, which along with sunshine and flowers means bees.

And occasionally they swarm. A group of bees gets antsy and they break out of their hive to set up a new colony.

It’s a normal process, but it can look a little frightening to see a blob of the flying, stinging insects stuck to a tree, fence post or wall near your house.

But if it’s honeybees you have swarming in your backyard, a group of North Olympic Peninsula beekeepers are willing to help. Like in years past they’ve given out their phone numbers, ready to come scoop up honeybee swarms spotted around the Peninsula.

Often, it’s their own bees.

“There’s probably a few wild bees around,” said Dave Crossley of the North Olympic Beekeepers’ Association.

“But diseases have decimated them. Generally when you see a swarm it’s from some beekeeper’s hive.”

The full report appears in today’s editions of the Peninsula Daily News, on sale throughout Clallam and Jefferson counties. Or click onto “Subscribe” at left to purchase a copy via U.S. mail.