February 3, 2025 • The Telephone Building

Bee Colony Discovered and Relocated at Telephone Building

A beekeeper wearing protective gear reaches into exposed brick and wood framing during removal of a large bee colony inside the Telephone Building wall.
A licensed beekeeper carefully removes part of the west wall to access a twenty-foot-long bee colony discovered mid-restoration.

During restoration work on the west wall of the historic Telephone Building, crews discovered an unexpected resident: a thriving bee colony inside a twenty-foot-long masonry cavity. Rather than exterminate the bees, the Cleveland Street Alliance team brought in a licensed beekeeper specializing in hive relocation.

The queen bee was carefully transferred to a containment vessel and placed outside, prompting the colony to follow naturally. Once vacated, the hive structure was removed and the wall sealed. The bees now live at a nearby apiary.

This ecological approach highlighted how restoration can be environmentally conscious while preserving the architectural legacy of downtown Clearwater.

Telephone
A licensed beekeeper preserves biodiversity during west wall work.
Telephone
Twenty-foot-long bee colony discovered inside wall cavity.

Learn more about the full restoration plan for the Telephone Building.

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