Squirrel house swarm

[Perry]

I went out and picked this up this morning. 2 days ago after the momma and 3 baby squirrels left their home in the morning, the owner watched a swarm move in not 20 minutes later. That means they have been in there for a day and a half, almost 2. When I showed up there were 2 of the smallest squirrels sitting on the roof watching the bees come and go, looking quite confused.
The owner really doesn't want me ruining the squirrel house, they've been there for 3 years, but there is an inspection hatch on one end that is about 6 x 8.
I could try and vac them out, but the owner said there was probably some upholstery material in there as nesting for the squirrels.
Maybe set it on it's end and try and smoke them out into a box sitting over the hatch?
Any ideas folks?

[blueblood]

Can you just shake them out in a deep as if it were a package?  They probably have only drawn a hand sized piece of comb.  Then, if that doesn't work, I would vac.  I wish you could have captured a photo of the displaced resident looking upon their home. 

[Perry]

Can you just shake them out in a deep as if it were a package?  They probably have only drawn a hand sized piece of comb.  Then, if that doesn't work, I would vac.  I wish you could have captured a photo of the displaced resident looking upon their home. 

I may end up trying that Dave, it seems like the easiest way to start anyway.
Yeah, it was funny looking at the squirrels, they were so small. They even took a couple of quick looks inside their old haunt but the traffic was too great and they quickly nacked off. If I can get this done today I will have it back in place for them by this evening.

[tmrschessie]

Nice catch, we always have way to many squirrels around here. The latest batch has just started moving in to the bird feeders. Tom

[LazyBkpr]

   I thought of bee go, but that may also displace the squirrels..    Like Blue said..   shouldn't be much comb.. Can you reach in and cut off the comb they did make? Rubber band it in a frame etc...?   Finding the queen would be a huge bonus. Put her in a clip in the new hive and shake the rest of the bees in...   then add smoke to run the stragglers out...    Just trying to imagine how I would do it... Interested to hear how you get the job done!

[robo]

If you can't get them out,  you can do a quick trap out.  I find if the swarm has just moved in (less than a week) and funnel screen will get them to abscond in a day or two.

[Perry]

Bummer, bummer, bummer.
All the effort and all there was inside was a bushel of emty walnuts, a few good ones, and maybe 4 dozen bees. 
I am thinking now that these may have been scouts. I cleaned the thing out and went and brought it back to the old feller I was doing this for. I told him I had cleaned it out and I left the screen on the front to prevent any stragglers from trying to get back in.
In the time it took me to put this back in the tree, there were another few dozen bees there trying to get in. 
What I decided to do was I took a 5 frame nuc, put 5 medium frames with comb in it, and set it right on top of the squirrel house. Within seconds bees were going into the nuc.
I can only guess that this squirrel house is on the short list of a swarm hanging somewhere. The bees showing up with interest is huge!
Maybe I'll get lucky.

[LazyBkpr]

Good plan!!

[tmrschessie]

Good luck, keep us posted. Tom

[riverbee]

love it perry!........

[jb63]

Good plan Perry,I think it's going to work.