Home Page \ News Archive

Bee Smart About Bees!

24 April 2006

Killer bees are slightly smaller than the European honeybee, but only an expert can tell them apart

Africanized Honey Bees (AHBs) can inflict 10 times more stings than domestic honey bees because they react to stimuli more quickly and in greater numbers. Cases have been reported where people have been chased by AHBs for a quarter-mile! This if the time of year for bees to swarm and you need to know what to do in case you are attacked.

Be as cautious of AHBs as you are about snakes, scorpions or wasps. To avoid these types of dangers, never climb a tree, kick a felled tree or stump, roll a log or turn over a large rock without checking to see if bees are coming and going from the area.If you become the target of an AHB attack, run in a straight line. Find shelter in a house, car or under a blanket as soon as possible.

A few bee stings are not life-threatening unless you are allergic to bee venom. If so, carry a first aid sting kit with you and call 9-1-1 immediately if stung.

Locally, problems with bees on private property must be handled by the property owner who should contact a professional bee keeper. Call 9-1-1 for emergency response when people or animals are being attacked or if the bees are within 300-feet of an educational or health care facility.

Bee safe this summer.