How Swarm Alerts Work

When someone reports a honey bee swarm through Swarmed, our system uses a tiered notification approach to give newer beekeepers a fair chance while ensuring fast response times.

Notification tiers:

Tier 1 - Immediate notification (0 seconds):

• The 10 nearest beekeepers to the swarm location
• Newcomers (beekeepers with fewer than 2 successful claims)

Tier 2 - Delayed notification (after 3 minutes):

• All other eligible beekeepers within the notification radius

This system ensures fast local response while making swarm claiming more equitable

Image verification: Reports with clear photos are analyzed by our AI. Verified honey bee swarms display a badge. Wasps and bumblebees may be flagged, but reports can still be processed so reporters get appropriate guidance.

Notification methods: You'll receive alerts via SMS, WhatsApp, or email depending on your preference. Only Contributors receive SMS and WhatsApp notifications.

Claiming a Swarm

• Every notification includes a link to view the report details. Reports include a photo, the city the swarm is in, the size, situation, height, and duration of the swarm.
• The first beekeeper to click “Claim Swarm” gets the reporter’s contact information and the swarm’s exact location.
• Once claimed, that swarm is no longer available for others to claim.
• You’ll be expected to reach out to the reporter quickly and arrange the rescue. You can click on “Send Message” to create a draft message and contact the reporter in seconds.

What Happens After You Claim

• The reporter will receive a confirmation message letting them know you’re on it.
• You’ll contact them directly to coordinate the rescue.
• After the rescue, you can confirm the swarm status on your dashboard:
  • Captured
  • Not Captured
    • Swarm Departed Before Arrival
    • Access Issues – Couldn’t Reach Swarm
    • Unsafe to Capture
    • Too Small / Not Viable
    • Private Property – No Permission
    • Weather Conditions
    • Reporter Never Responded
    • Not Bees – Wasps
    • Not Bees – Bumble Bee
    • Not a Swarm – Cutout
    • Other (type here)