What is a bee swarm?
Bees swarm in the
spring and fall; bees that are swarming are actually “homeless bees”
looking for a new place to build a hive. Although they appear
awesome and frightening hanging on the sides of buildings, signs,
from tree branches and the like, swarms are passive, which means
they are not as dangerous. If you get too close, you may get stung,
but most likely will not be attacked. The swarm is actually taking
a rest and will move on to find a place to build a hive in a remote,
safe location. If you see a swarm, you should not be alarmed, but
aware. If the swarm is on your property you should have it
removed.
What is a
beehive?
The beehive is
where the bees live. Made of wax and honeycomb, it is the place
they store their food – honey. When the bees feel that their hive
is threatened, they will protect it aggressively. The bees do not
know if you are a bear, skunk, or a human. They are protecting the
hive to keep you from stealing their food and killing their young,
which is natural to all animals and insects.
Leave the bees
alone-
Do not agitate
them. Keep the area quiet and calm. Contact a local exterminator
or bee removal service to have the bees taken away. Remove any pets
or children playing in the area and have them stay inside a
building. Encourage people in the area not to make noise. Bees are
especially attracted to lawnmowers, dogs barking, weed eaters, or
other humming noises. They are also attracted to bright flashing
lights. This is why when emergency vehicles respond to a bee
incident, they do not use their lights or sirens.
What to do if
you see someone attacked by bees:
If it appears the
person is being stung several times by many bees, and they cannot
escape, call 9-1-1 immediately. Advise the person to seek shelter
in a building or vehicle. DO NOT SCREAM OR WAVE YOUR ARMS at the
person, this will attract the bees to attack you. If it appears the
person is lying on the ground and is unconscious, do not try to
rescue them. The bees will leave because the person is not moving
and they will attack you instead. You can help more by calling
emergency personnel and directing them to the scene.
What to do if
you are being attacked by bees:
If possible, run as
fast as you can from the bees, in most cases you can outrun them.
Cover your face with your hands. Do not scream or wave your arms,
because this will cause the bees to continue attacking you. Look
for shelter, such as a building or vehicle. Swimming pools are NOT
a good place to hide. The bees will wait for you to come up for air
and attack you again.
If someone has been
stung several times they should seek medical attention. If the
person becomes dizzy, has difficulty breathing, or their lips and
fingernails turn blue, you should call 9-1-1 immediately. The
person may be suffering an allergic reaction to the stings and they
need immediate medical attention.
PLEASE NOTE: The
Lake Havasu City Fire Department does not remove
swarms of bees or beehives. Professionals should do this and a list
of them is available by calling 855-1141. Any contact with an
exterminator or bee removal service is the responsibility of the
person calling. Lake Havasu City does not provide extermination or
bee removal services or pay billing for such services if made by a
third party. The fire department only responds in situations where
people are stung by bees or to assist professional exterminators.
If you feel that a
condition warrants special attention, or if you feel uncomfortable
about a certain situation with bees, you can call Lake Havasu City
Fire Department at 855-1141 or 453-3313.
If it appears
that bees are attacking a person, or that a potential
life-threatening situation exists, you should call 9-1-1
immediately. DO NOT CALL 9-1-1 to report the location of bees
flying or swarms of bees. |
