Bee attack

[RedRocker]

A guy in the DFW area was attacked the other day while clearing brush. I couldn't find the story anywhere, so I'm working from memory. They said he bailed out of the cab covered in bees and broke his leg, managed to get back on and drive for help. Had to crawl quite a way to get cell service. The FD had to spray him with foam to get the bees off so they could rescue him. He did survive last I heard.
I gotta say, that's the one thing that scares the begeezus out of me, my place is all brush. Any tips to prevent something like this would be appreciated.

 

[GerardC]

<font color="blue"> ....my place is all brush. Any tips to prevent something like this would be appreciated. </font>

Keeping the brush to a minimum will help if not rid the problem altogether.

 

[frank_f15]

I don't really think there is much you can do, when they decide to build a nest or hive, they can do it quick. I know , spent a day in the hospital last july from 1 bee sting. i am extremly allergic to bee bites, so i am very careful when working any where outside, always have my eppie pen handie.

 

[Dachshund]

I was out front of my house last week. I thought I was in an Alfred Hitchcock Movie! Heard an odd buzzing that kept getting louder, Louder and LOUDER - turned around to see a HUGE swarm of honey bees heading right for me about 4 foot off the ground! Dove into the house just as they flew up, over the house and headed for the pasture! Man! Makes the hair on my neck stand up, just THINKING about it! And I'm not allergic!

 

[DKinWA]

It sounds like they were swarming. They aren't typically very aggresive at that point and are more interested in finding a new home. I work with several folks that keep bees and they've been picking up swarms over the last week or two. Bees are actually interesting critters and I'm probably going to get some bees next year to help with the garden.

 

[Junkman]

I have seen two news pieces in the last week about bees swarming in CT. In one, they showed the bees that had become "attached" to the rear quarter panel of a car in a parking lot. The other was where they attached themselves to the side of a house. I don't mind honey bees as much as the wasps and yellow jackets that seem to want to call my home theirs. I remember as a kid stepping on a yellow jacket nest while crossing the marsh and running as if I were being chased by a train. That was the last time that any of us ever took that short cut home.

 

[EddieWalker]

A couple months ago while clearing some trees on my dozer I saw a bunch of bees. They were swarming the front blade. I quickly backed up and grabed my can of "OFF" that I keep handy. I sprayed myself while backing up.

Once I was in the open, and still spraying myself, I jumped off and ran. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Not one sting.

It could be they were focussing on the blade.
It could be the "OFF" worked. I know I inhaled enough of it.
Or I just got lucky.

I always keep a can of it on each tractor. Wasps are my biggest concern. I usually get stung a few times a year.


I think it was late last year that a logger was killed by a swarm of killer bees down in the Lufkin area.

Eddie

 

[hudr]

We try to keep bees on our place year round. It really helps the clover come alive. The only rent we charge the beekeeper is free choice of honey. You can not beat fresh raw honey off your own place. Also, as a side note, there has been some interest (homeopathic) in bee sting therapy for MS, allergies, etc.
I do know I have terrible allergies. One hay season (which I did NOT look forward too each year) I was stung early on by a honeybee. No allergy symptoms the entire season. Coincidence? maybe. Makes you think though...

 

[RedRocker]

I've heard eating honey locally harvested helps with allergies.

 

[Junkman]

I know that a spoon full of honey will take that awful taste out of your mouth when you need to drink that awful stuff before a colonoscopy..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[dmccarty]

Eddie,

Keeping a bug spray on the tractor is a good idea.

For the last couple of tractor work days I had noticed wasps hanging around the tractor when I was working. I was near our house and the wasps are having a field day hanging nests from the roof overhangs and door jambs. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

The wasps around the tractor where not aggresive but persistant. I would not swat at them since they where playing nice and I did not want them mad but they just kept hanging around This went on for a couple of weekends. It was real bothersome because they where flying and landing on and around the steering wheel and various controls. I just knew I was going to grab one when I reached to do something and that was going to ruin my day. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

At the end of the day I parked the tractor and was doing some other chores and I noticed the wasps where still hanging around. I watched them and lo and behold the little cirtters where crawling through the control openings on the dash. They must have had a next inside the dash. This was a first. I happened to have an old can of wasp spray that I last used to kill a nest build in my rotary cutter a few years ago. I sprayed them and hopefully that is the end of this problem.

I think I'll get a can of bug spray to keep on the tractor. I have been attacked by hornets and yellow jackets. Thankfully not on the tractor but I'm sure its only a matter of time. I have some serious bush cutting to do this year....

Later,
Dan

 

[boustany]

Hmmmm.....

As a beekeeper, 'bees' are usually pretty harmless, and won't 'cover you', even if swarming, though you can kind of get them to cover you if thats what turns your crank. Bees generally don't sting when swarming.

Killer bees are another story, of course, but we don't have them up in the snowy north (though they too are apparently harmless when swarming).

Wasps & hornets, however, scare the heck outa me and I work my colonies in shirtsleeves, often without smoke.

If you are worried about being stung, there are several suggestions

1) get a doctor to prescribe an 'epi-pen' which is a pre-loaded syringe you can use if you have an allergic reaction or get stung repeatedly (I have one just in case a kid decides to inspect a hive)

2) get a beekeeper veil or 'hat'. Bees are particularly exciting when they walk on your face, and sting are particulary nasty there /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

3) stay the **** away from wasp and hornets, or kill them first with long distance spray. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Dachshund]

Yup! I know they are just lookin' for a new place to roost, but don't want to take the chance........... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[DKinWA]

I don't blame you. Last time I got stung by a bee on the arm, it swelled up like a baseball.

 

[crashz]

We have yellow jackets and wasps at my fathers garage, my parents house and my house. Can't seem to get away from them. Every year we probably spent $100 in cans of spray to kill them, and every year they come back.

The all black ones are the worst. They seem to actually hunt you down rather than be defensive.