Another reason for CLOSED CABS.

Cat_Driver · Mar 1, 2020

I was removing a lot of scrub brush from the property today with the grappler. Apparently I hit some sort of bees nest, I never did see it. The entire cab turned dark almost like a solar eclipse. They swarmed the entire cab. I sat there stunned for a second then thought I hope this cab doesn't have any openings for them to get it.

I hightailed it out of there lickety-split they chased me for almost 500 feet before they gave up.

I drove by later a couple of *** later with my truck and they were still riled up.

I debated for a long time getting a cab thinking this is a pretty expensive luxury, but today I realized it's not a luxury at all it's a lifesaver. I can guarantee you I'd be dead right now being stung by hundreds of those things. Moreover, if I was in an open cab they would have continued to sting me for a few hundred feet.

How'd you like to see the news report on that one. Man dead in the seat of this tractor stung several thousand times and he was swelled up twice his size.

radios1 · Mar 1, 2020

they could be africanized killer bees!. by the way you described them.. if so, they need to be destroyed. and yeah, some people like to live on the wild side, and come what may, they like the open cab.. look here. Africanized bees extend their distribution in California

oosik · Mar 1, 2020

Thirty nine years and NEVER anything like Cat_Driver experienced. No question at all - if I had bees like that - I'd have a cab. I think it's because there are no ground dwelling species around these parts.

ONCE I unknowingly mixed it up with a small nest of Bald Faced Hornets. They chased me all the way back to the house. Some 150 feet. I've now learned to recognize those specific looking nests and avoid them at all costs.

Having the entire cab covered is bad enough. Worrying about some tiny opening would set your heart to racing.

Glad to hear you are OK, Cat_Driver. Have you done anything about the bees??

DEFINITELY a very good reason to have a cab.

Cat_Driver · Mar 1, 2020

That makes twice a close cab saved me. The other time I was clearing some mesquite trees with a closed cab skid steer.
I pushed forward with the grapple to make a grab and as I pushed forward the thick brack slipped off the grapple and snapped back like a mousetrap.

It hit that windshield so hard the sound alone scared the heck out of me. Had that windshield not been there - who knows.

radios1 - good point. I need to see if I can get a dead one to check it out. Quite frankly I'm scared to death to even go near that patch now. I've never seen bees so aggressive and chase something for so long, they were relentless.

Another point why I get cabs is I would always get dust pneumonia after working with an open can even though I had a mask. I'd work the day then spend the next week coughing my brains out.

Just some advice for the guys that are on the fence when it comes to cabs. I have to give kudos to the guys I see on youtube in an open can late at night plowing the snow of snow blowing the snow in freezing temps with a high windchill. I don't know how you guys do that.

oosik · Mar 1, 2020

The bees being that aggressive - I just wonder if you didn't run into a patch of Bald Faced Hornets or the like. I've never seen bees being that way. Hornets - yes. Very much so..........

How do I plow snow in the cold and in a driving snow storm with my open station Kubota? Eddie Bauer - head to toe.

repete · Mar 1, 2020

A few years back one of the guys in our valley was using his brush hog for mowing with an 8N and ran over a nest. He was allergic to bees and they attacked him.

When he tried to get off the tractor, he knocked it into gear and the tractor lunged forward and the brush hog took his foot off just above the ankle and the bees continued to sting. He took a helicopter ride to Harborview Hospital in Seattle that day. He now has a prosthetic leg from the knee down but manages to work as he previously had. Incidentally, That following year we had a bad flood and he watched as his home was ripped from the foundation and floated down the river. It was a year of tragedy for Dil.

dougtrr2 · Mar 1, 2020

Cat_Driver said:
radios1 - good point. I need to see if I can get a dead one to check it out. Quite frankly I'm scared to death to even go near that patch now. I've never seen bees so aggressive and chase something for so long, they were relentless.

I would make some calls and see what it would cost to have someone exterminate them. Just point him to the area, stay safely back, and watch the show. NO sense in putting yourself through something like that. If they are that aggressive they are probably not your average honey bee.

Doug in SW IA

fried1765 · Mar 1, 2020

Cat_Driver said:
I was removing a lot of scrub brush from the property today with the grappler. Apparently I hit some sort of bees nest, I never did see it. The entire cab turned dark almost like a solar eclipse. They swarmed the entire cab. I sat there stunned for a second then thought I hope this cab doesn't have any openings for them to get it.

I hightailed it out of there lickety-split they chased me for almost 500 feet before they gave up.

I drove by later a couple of *** later with my truck and they were still riled up.

I debated for a long time getting a cab thinking this is a pretty expensive luxury, but today I realized it's not a luxury at all it's a lifesaver. I can guarantee you I'd be dead right now being stung by hundreds of those things. Moreover, if I was in an open cab they would have continued to sting me for a few hundred feet.

How'd you like to see the news report on that one. Man dead in the seat of this tractor stung several thousand times and he was swelled up twice his size.

Likely they were not honey bees, though it is possible they could have been the Africanized variety.

caver · Mar 1, 2020

I was stung three times mowing about two years ago by some yellowjackets. Then I discovered they set up shop in my extend-a-boom. So late last summer and thankful I have a cab on the backhoe as it protected me. Unfortunately the A/C needs some work so was sweating until I saw where the nest was and blasted 'em.

Steppenwolfe · Mar 1, 2020

WOW! Glad you are OK. We have ground bee's here and yellow jackets. I have driven over both bush hogging, but they have never seemed to be too concerned with me while on sitting on the tractor. Sounds like you have a problem to get rid of. Good luck and be careful.

radios1 · Mar 1, 2020

there's a good bit of info on identification here. honey bees in ground - Google Search

TMGT · Mar 1, 2020

I hit an underground yellow jacket next a couple years ago while bushhogging some woods on an open station tractor. Of course it happened while maneuvering between some tight trees, took a couple hits before I realized what was happening and had to bail.

Tractor and bushhog were still running while I drove back to my house and got a bunch of extra clothing so I could retrieve the tractor. Maneuvered out from the trees, put it in high range and high tailed it out of there, they chased me for quite some time.

Took about 5 plus hits before I was able to get out the first time, if they sting me the second time I would know, had about 3 layers of clothes on in the middle of summer!

3930dave · Mar 1, 2020

Cat_Driver said:
Just some advice for the guys that are on the fence when it comes to cabs. I have to give kudos to the guys I see on youtube in an open can late at night plowing the snow of snow blowing the snow in freezing temps with a high windchill. I don't know how you guys do that.

I'd say Buy a Lottery Ticket Cat, but you've already had your Win !

I'd rather plow snow all day long open-station than deal with what you and other guys here have hit for nests. At least you can thaw out once in a while, and be back to normal. Stings in that quantity :shocked: , even if you aren't allergic, Yikes.

Heated cabs are appreciated up here, but if you don't got...... Layer up with skidoo gear, and have at it !

Rgds, D.

Threepoint · Mar 1, 2020

Cat_Driver, glad you're o.k.!

I'd sure try to have the bees identified by an expert before making a decision to destroy them. Pls. keep us posted!

BTW, I'm with you on cabs. :thumbsup:

EddieWalker · Mar 1, 2020

No cab, but I sure want one.

One time I was cleaning up an area with my bucket flat on the ground and I was pushing it forward to pick up, or scoop, whatever went into the bucket. When it was full, I backed up and saw a swarm come out of the ground. Not sure exactly what type of bee or wasp they where, but they attacked the bucket with a vengeance!!! I turned off the engine, jumped out and quickly ran away. I came back a few hours later and there was no sign of them.

I've been stung a few times while bush hogging, but I've never seen anything like that since then. I can only guess that I would have been stung a hundred times if they had understood that it was the driver that caused the problem, and not the bucket!!!!

Cat_Driver · Mar 2, 2020

I went back over today and they are definitely bees and they made their hive in an old antique gas alk behind trencher that I didn't know was there until I hit it with the grapple.

I'll get a picture of where on the machinery they built their nest on this old, filthy, greasy hunk of steel.

Threepoint · Mar 2, 2020

Cat_Driver said:
I went back over today and they are definitely bees and they made their hive in an old antique gas alk behind trencher that I didn't know was there until I hit it with the grapple.

I'll get a picture of where on the machinery they built their nest on this old, filthy, greasy hunk of steel.

Cool! Whatever yours are, they're pollinators, and likely welcomed by the large ag community in the Coachella Valley.

Especially since honey bees seem to be rapidly disappearing worldwide due to the Varroa Mite. There's a guy in Palm Desert called the Bee Whisperer who specializes in relocating bee hives, including the "Killer Bees". Here's a link to his Facebook Page: The Bee Whisperer - Home | Facebook

Also, just from a quick check online it looks like there may be several other bee removal and relocation services in your area.