
Brazos County commissioners are asked to consider a policy calling for the live removal of honeybee colonies.
Chris Barnes, who with his wife have 60 honeybee colonies around Brazos County, was among public speakers at this week’s commission meeting (March 4).
Barnes, who referred to the insects as “livestock”, said since last June there has been the loss of 1.25 million colonies, with some producers losing nearly everything.
He asked for live removal instead of contacting a pest control company or county employees destroying colonies.
Barnes said there would be one exception, and that is when bees are attacking someone.
Because Barnes spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting, by state law commissioners were not allowed to respond.
The website of the Brazos Valley Beekeepers Association includes how to contact someone who does live removals. The organization also has a meeting scheduled for the evening of March 18th at Bryan High School.
Click below to hear Chris Barnes’ comments from the March 4, 2025 Brazos County commission meeting.