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Bee Tips
Avoiding Bee Attacks
- Look for bee colonies around your property
Look for active bees and listen for buzzing or humming in the ground, in trees or shrubs, or in block walls. Seal any holes around your house larger than 1/8". If you find a colony of bees call a professional exterminator or the State Agriculture Dept.
- Keep animals away from known beehives or nests
Bees may seem docile at first, but don't take any chances.
- Do not disturb, tease or try to remove bees
Do not attempt to control bees with aerosol pesticides, gasoline, etc. Call an expert bee exterminator.
- Keep pets and children indoors when using weed eaters, hedge clippers, tractors, power mowers, chain saws, etc.
Bees are sensitive to unusual odors (such as cut grass), and to loud vibrations. Attacks frequently occur when a person is mowing the lawn or pruning shrubs and trees and inadvertently strikes a bee or wasp nest.
- Keep dogs under control when hiking
A dog bounding through the brush may disturb bees.
- Stay alert when horseback riding through brush or under low-hanging branches where bees might nest
If You Are Attacked
- Run away as fast as you can.
- Take shelter in a house, car, or other enclosed space.
- Try to cover your head and eyes without slowing down your escape.
- Do not jump into water, as bees may wait for you to surface.
- Once you are away from the bees, examine yourself for stingers.
- Do not try to pull out stingers with fingers or tweezers. Scrape them off with a credit card or fingernail.
- If you are feeling ill, or may be allergic to bee stings, seek medical attention immediately.
- If you see someone being attacked, encourage them to run. Do not try to rescue them unless you have a bee suit and proper training. Call 911 for help.
- Bees may chase their target up to one-quarter mile, and will
remain agitated for up to eight hours after they are disturbed.
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