The NMSU Extension office in Aztec, New Mexico, runs the swarm-response program for San Juan County, connecting Four Corners residents who find honey bee swarms with local beekeepers who collect them alive. As part of New Mexico State University’s statewide Cooperative Extension network, the office serves as a neutral, public-service hub — it doesn’t remove bees itself, but it maintains the county’s swarm call list and routes reports to the volunteer beekeepers registered on it.
Here’s how it works: when a swarm appears on your property — most likely between March and June, when New Mexico colonies naturally divide — you call the Extension office at 505-334-9496 and describe what you’re seeing. The office connects you with a beekeeper from the list, who can capture the cluster and rehome it to a managed hive rather than destroying it. Live collection is better for the pollinators and a more lasting fix for the property owner. Any arrangements for the work are made directly with the responding beekeeper.
A Resource for Four Corners Beekeepers, Too
The program works in both directions. Area beekeepers can join the swarm call list through a short application or by phoning the office. Beyond swarms, the Extension distributes practical beekeeping education for San Juan County: NMSU publications such as Guide L-110, Honey Bees in New Mexico, and a pocket guide to the state’s native bees, plus information on bee health, hive registration requirements, and honey sales regulations. It also connects local keepers with the Four Corners Beekeepers Association and the New Mexico Beekeepers Association, anchoring the beekeeping community across Aztec, Farmington, and Bloomfield.