A recap of Bee News for the month of March, 2015.
The month of March is historically a busy month for beekeepers and bee removal specialists. It’s the month where spring begins and bees begin to swarm. This year is no different. By late March swarms began popping up all over San Diego County.
While combing over the bee related news stories this month, I noticed something odd. In addition to the usual stories about bees and beekeeping, there seemed to be a high number of articles describing bee attacks. These attacks were concentrated mainly in Southern California.
75,000 Killer Bees Attack Woman
One incident happened early in the month in the town of Palm Desert. A 71-year-old woman was stung approximately 1,000 times. Apparently the bees invaded her car when she drove within 90 feet from the hive.
http://www.outsideonline.com/news-from-the-field/75000-Killer-Bees-Attack-Woman.html
2 Drivers Stung By More Than 600 Bees
Another incident happened three days later when two women accidentally drove into a tree that had bee hive. One of the victims was a 17-year-old girl who fell while being chased by the bees. Rescue workers had to hose her down with a fire extinguisher.
CHP motorcycle officer hospitalized after bee attack
Here in San Diego a CHP Officer was spotted slumped over his motorcycle on the side of the road. The officer had to be rushed to the hospital due to the fact that had an allergic reaction after being attacked by bees.
http://www.cbs8.com/story/28251272/chp-motorcycle-officer-hospitalized-after-bee-attack
WWII Veteran Survives Bee Attack
Also here in San Diego, an attack went unnoticed by the local media. A senior who was clearing weeds in his backyard had to be rushed to the hospital. He suffered over 150 stings and survived. here’s his story.
https://www.beebestinc.com/wwii-veteran-survives-bee-attack/
Africanized Bees at Baseball Field
Arguably the most terrifying story this month was the incident that happened in Utah at a baseball game. The audience watching from the bleachers were attacked by bees that came from a hive inside a crack near a nearby light pole.
So how do you protect yourself from a bee attack? The best thing you can do is avoid the area and call a bee professional to remove them. Bees in Southern California are Africanized, so caution should be used whenever you are near a hive. Do not mow a lawn mover, start a weed wacker, or throttle a motorcycle near an established hive. Vibration often the thing that sets off agitated bees.
If you accidentally disturb a colony, run from the hive as far as you can. Do not try to run into an enclosed small space like a porta-potty, car, or a shed. African hybrid bees can easily find a small gap to enter the structure and attack you on the inside. Also, do not jump into a pool. African hybrid bees have been known to sting the mouths of victims coming up from air. The best solution is to always get as far away from the colony as possible.
Ever been attacked by bees? How did you resolve the problem? Share your story below.
