Is it permissible to own a swarm of bees found on a tree whose owner is unknown, or a swarm of bees that flew away from its owner, by placing it in a box or setting up a trap for it, or must it be announced as a lost item?

If someone finds bees and does not know that they are owned by anyone, he may take them, whether they are on a person's land or unowned land. However, if the land of another is enclosed, or if the bees are on a tree belonging to him, it is not permissible to enter without the owner's permission. The majority of scholars and the Hanafis differed regarding the ownership of honey by the landowner, but they agreed that the landowner does not own the bees unless he has prepared a place for them. If bees fly away from their owner, it is permissible to set a trap to catch them, but this should not be near people's beehives. If their owner is known and the bees can be distinguished, they should be returned to him; otherwise, they belong to whoever took or caught them.