Altura Honey and Bee Capture Removal is an Albuquerque, New Mexico apiary that pairs honey production with a honey bee swarm-removal hotline serving Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and Santa Fe. Its hives sit mostly in Albuquerque’s South Valley, where the bosque and irrigated valley floor offer a wide variety of bee-friendly plants — a foraging advantage that shows up in the honey.
What sets Altura apart is its beekeeping philosophy. The operation raises what it calls survival bees, using a natural-selection approach: hives are not treated with any substances, even natural ones. The reasoning is long-term — colonies that thrive without intervention pass on hardier genetics, strengthening the local bee population over generations rather than propping up weak stock. The result is raw, treatment-free honey, available locally at Los Ranchos Bakery, with an email list that notifies customers when new harvests are ready.
Swarm Capture and Relocation
When honey bees swarm — most commonly from March through June in New Mexico — Altura’s hotline at 505-500-4780 connects property owners with live capture and relocation. Rather than exterminating, the beekeeper collects the colony and rehomes it to a managed apiary, where those hardy genetics may even join the survival-bee program. Terms for removal work are set by the beekeeper, so call and describe what you’re seeing.
Altura also invests in the local beekeeping community, offering mentorship, meetups, and resources for anyone wanting to keep backyard hives in the Albuquerque area. For a homeowner with unexpected bees or a shopper hunting genuinely local honey, Altura Honey covers both sides of the hive.
