When a swarm settles on the Hillsborough and Pasco county line, Bert Blackburn is a name area beekeepers pass along for live rescue. Listed through the Tampa Bay Beekeepers as a swarm-rescue and colony-removal contact for north Tampa and south Pasco, he focuses on getting honey bees out alive and relocated rather than sprayed. If you are in Lutz, Wesley Chapel, or Land O’ Lakes and have found a cluster hanging from a branch or a colony that has moved into a structure, this is a local contact worth a call.
One practical note from the association listing: callers are asked to text first rather than phone cold. A quick message with your location and, if you can manage it safely, a photo of the swarm or the spot the bees are using helps a beekeeper judge how big the job is and whether it is a simple swarm scoop or something that needs more equipment.
Because this is an association-referred contact for the Lutz corridor, availability and scope depend on the season and how the colony has established itself. As with every beekeeper in this directory, each beekeeper sets their own terms, so it is worth confirming what a visit involves before anyone comes out. For homeowners along the Hillsborough and Pasco line who would rather see the bees moved to a hive than exterminated, Bert Blackburn is a straightforward starting point.