James Adams, Owner of JA Bee Farm, and his assistant Quinton Shipp recently removed a large hive of bees from the concession stand at the Natchitoches Shooting Range. James estimated there were around 100,000 bees in the hive, which has been in the ceiling of the concession stand for about two years now. He had to remove part of the ceiling itself to get to the hive and then slowly removed it section by section.
James has been known for his work removing honey bees from locations where they’re unwanted for the last 35 years. His largest job to date was a hive that spanned 10×12 feet inside the wall of a home. It took seven people over the course of several days to remove it.
James enjoys working with the bees, which he does without any protective gear. The honey bee fascinates him and his goal is to save as many as he can, as people often want to destroy them instead of calling professionals to remove them properly.
“We need bees for more than honey,” he said, although he does sell the honey he collects from his bees. “Bees are the key players in the pollination of plants. They’re important for commercial farming practices around the world. Think of bees as essential workers because without pollination, the world would be a very different place to live.”
