Latest news with #Africanized
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Las Vegas beekeeper's death drives call for safety
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A Las Vegas beekeeper's death is causing his family to express caution about a bee that has put Nevada under quarantine. On May 10, Scott Stromme, 62, was found lying on the floor of his home, allegedly stung to death after possibly knocking over a container of bees. His father, Phillip Stromme, said he discovered Scott only after several attempts at calling him. '[I] went around the front door, opened that up, went in,' he said. 'And I knew right then he was in a place you don't want to be.' His son was cold to the touch and not moving, allegedly welled up from possible bee stings. Phillip said he saw his son's beekeeping hat was set to the side around hundreds of dead bees. 'I have no idea, and had to put two and two together,' Phillip said. Scott was a jack of all trades with a penchant for picking up a new talent at a quick pace and treating each job with an incredible amount of responsibility, according to Phillip. 'You have a job here, and a job there, and he started out working at the Rio in a shop there,' Phillip said. 'And he stood guard outside, but he looked like a guard at the palace in England with a tall hat.' Friends still call Scott's phone according to Phillip who said his daughter has broken the news to several of Scott's acquaintances, pals, and clients. 'My daughter's been getting an awful lot of phone calls on his phone,' he said. Phillip said it's heartbreaking what happened to his son and warned others should express caution when around certain types of bees. The State of Nevada has been under a quarantine for the Africanized Honeybees, according to state law, but that hasn't stopped trained beekeepers from answering the calls from concerned homeowners. 'So that [quarantine] means that they're more aggressive,' Daniel Millett, operations manager for Bee Master of Las Vegas, said. 'They respond with more bees than our domiciled, domestic bees that we've trained for 1200 or 1500 years to be nice and produce a lot of honey.' The Africanized Honeybees do not produce as much honey as their more well known and temperate counterparts, according to Millett. 'All these Africanized bees are buck wild,' he said. 'They think everything's a rhino or a hippo.' Millett found out about what happened to Stromme and said the incident was awful but also allowed for a chance to remind residents about the danger of certain types of bees. 'When this poor fellow started to work with his bees, whatever gear he had on, they overwhelmed him,' he said. 'And it's a darn shame that it happened.' Millett said residents with any concerns or issue with bees can find licensed beekeepers through the Nevada Department of Agriculture. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A Texas man was mowing his property when a swarm of bees attacked. He died soon after.
A Texas man has died after being attacked by a swarm of bees. Steven William Daniel of Cisco died on April 27 in Eastland, Texas, about 130 miles southwest of Dallas, according to an incident report obtained by USA TODAY on Monday. Eastland Police Department officers responding to a call about a crashed vehicle found Daniel swarmed by the bees, the agency said in a news release. Officers took Daniel out of his truck and put him in a police car until an ambulance could arrive and take him to a hospital. During the ambulance ride, Daniel stopped breathing and became unresponsive, the department said. Although Daniel, 66, was not allergic to bees, he died later that evening of circulator collapse from the bee stings, according to the incident report. Circulatory collapse, or circulatory shock, occurs when the body's circulation system is compromised, resulting in inadequate blood flow to the body's vital organs. Cyd Daniel, Daniel's wife, told Texas television station KTAB/KRBC that her husband had been mowing a property they owned in Eastland when he encountered the bees. Over the seven years the couple owned the property, he had never had an issue with bees, Cyd said. Bee swarm: Bees attack and kill 3 horses in Texas: 'They didn't give up' Cyd described her late husband to KTAB/KRBC as funny and quiet, someone who believe in safety first. "I believe this happened for a reason, and I think it's to warn the rest of us," Cyd told the local television station. "And if it helps one person or one kid or people at a birthday party, then he helped. He made a difference." Cyd did not immediately respond when contacted by USA TODAY on May 19. Another fatal bee attack in region happened less than two weeks after Daniel's death. On May 9, a swarm of what are believed to be Africanized honey bees, also known as killer bees, attacked and killed three horses in Comanche, Texas, just about 50 miles southeast of Eastland. That attack involved millions of bees that also attacked the owner of the horses. "They attacked me as soon as I got outside," Baillie Hillman told USA TODAY. "They were in my ears, my glasses, my hair." She escaped and got back inside. It's unclear what kind of bees attacked Daniel. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 72 people died from hornet, wasp and bee stings each year between 2011 and 2021. Spring is a busy time for bees. They're emerging to forage, reproduce and sometimes, look for a new home, Texas Beeworks founder Erika Thompson told USA TODAY. If you encounter bees this spring, the best thing to do is stay calm. Avoid sudden movements, swatting and loud noises because bees are sensitive to vibrations, Thompson said. Thompson said if you are stung by a bee, remove the stinger as soon as possible because it can continue to release venom even after the sting. Regularly inspect your property for gaps, cracks or open vents − areas that bees can squeeze into, Thompson said. Seal any unwanted openings with fine mesh, caulk or weather stripping. If you find a hive in an unwanted area on your property, contact a local beekeeper or bee removal specialist for ethical relocation. Don't try to handle the hive on your own. Maintenance: Here's how to get rid of bees around your home Contributing: Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas man mowing grass dies after being attacked by swarm of bees
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
A Texas man was mowing his property when a swarm of bees attacked. He died soon after.
A Texas man was mowing his property when a swarm of bees attacked. He died soon after. Steven William Daniel died after he was swarmed by bees while mowing his property in Eastland. On average, about 72 people died from hornet, wasp and bee stings each year between 2011 and 2021. Show Caption Hide Caption Warmer temperatures could put western honey bees at risk Warmer temperatures could put western honey bees at risk of collapse. Researchers at Washington State University and the Department of Agriculture point to warmer autumns and winters causing big problems. Fox - Seattle A Texas man has died after being attacked by a swarm of bees. Steven William Daniel of Cisco died on April 27 in Eastland, Texas, about 130 miles southwest of Dallas, according to an incident report obtained by USA TODAY on Monday. Eastland Police Department officers responding to a call about a crashed vehicle found Daniel swarmed by the bees, the agency said in a news release. Officers took Daniel out of his truck and put him in a police car until an ambulance could arrive and take him to a hospital. During the ambulance ride, Daniel stopped breathing and became unresponsive, the department said. Although Daniel, 66, was not allergic to bees, he died later that evening of circulator collapse from the bee stings, according to the incident report. Circulatory collapse, or circulatory shock, occurs when the body's circulation system is compromised, resulting in inadequate blood flow to the body's vital organs. Cyd Daniel, Daniel's wife, told Texas television station KTAB/KRBC that her husband had been mowing a property they owned in Eastland when he encountered the bees. Over the seven years the couple owned the property, he had never had an issue with bees, Cyd said. Bee swarm: Bees attack and kill 3 horses in Texas: 'They didn't give up' Cyd described her late husband to KTAB/KRBC as funny and quiet, someone who believe in safety first. "I believe this happened for a reason, and I think it's to warn the rest of us," Cyd told the local television station. "And if it helps one person or one kid or people at a birthday party, then he helped. He made a difference." Cyd did not immediately respond when contacted by USA TODAY on May 19. More bees attack in region Another fatal bee attack in region happened less than two weeks after Daniel's death. On May 9, a swarm of what are believed to be Africanized honey bees, also known as killer bees, attacked and killed three horses in Comanche, Texas, just about 50 miles southeast of Eastland. That attack involved millions of bees that also attacked the owner of the horses. "They attacked me as soon as I got outside," Baillie Hillman told USA TODAY. "They were in my ears, my glasses, my hair." She escaped and got back inside. It's unclear what kind of bees attacked Daniel. How many people die from bee stings each year? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 72 people died from hornet, wasp and bee stings each year between 2011 and 2021. Keeping safe around bees this spring Spring is a busy time for bees. They're emerging to forage, reproduce and sometimes, look for a new home, Texas Beeworks founder Erika Thompson told USA TODAY. If you encounter bees this spring, the best thing to do is stay calm. Avoid sudden movements, swatting and loud noises because bees are sensitive to vibrations, Thompson said. Thompson said if you are stung by a bee, remove the stinger as soon as possible because it can continue to release venom even after the sting. Regularly inspect your property for gaps, cracks or open vents − areas that bees can squeeze into, Thompson said. Seal any unwanted openings with fine mesh, caulk or weather stripping. If you find a hive in an unwanted area on your property, contact a local beekeeper or bee removal specialist for ethical relocation. Don't try to handle the hive on your own. Maintenance: Here's how to get rid of bees around your home Contributing: Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Bees swarm, attack and kill 3 horses in Texas: 'They didn't give up'
Baillie Hillman knew something wasn't right. In the cool spring morning, she had put three horses out on the fresh grass of her front yard. Now, instead of grazing, the horses were standing still, heads down – a large cloud of flies surrounding them. "When she went outside, she realized it was actually bees," said Shane Stalnacker, administrative officer with the Comanche Volunteer Fire Department in Texas. The huge swarm was attacking. Over the course of that morning on May 9, Hillman, her partner James Ramirez, firefighters from two counties, emergency medical technicians and veterinarians would fight to protect the horses from the bees, believed to be Africanized honey bees — known as killer bees. Despite all their efforts, they would fail. All three horses succumbed to the attack and died. When the yard was finally cleared of bees, thanks to Stalnacker's quick thinking and a bottle of Dawn dish soap, the cause was discovered. A tree at the edge of their property was infested with the bees. When it was cut down the next day, authorities discovered just how many bees they'd been dealing with. "The hive was approximately seven feet long. There were millions of bees in there," said Stalnacker. When Hillman ran out to check on the horses, she immediately realized it was not flies but bees that were attacking them. "They attacked me as soon as I got outside," said Hillman. "They were in my ears, my glasses, my hair," She went back inside to call first Ramirez and then 911. The Comanche Volunteer Fire Department, local emergency services and sheriff's officers arrived to help, finding swarms of what they believe were Africanized honey bees in the area where the horses were standing. "We haven't had it confirmed that they were Africanized, but everyone's saying they couldn't imagine it being anything else due to their sheer numbers and their extremely aggressive behavior. They didn't give up," said Hillman. "We got assistance from the Guthrie Volunteer Fire Department, who brought bee suits," Stalnacker said. He also thought to ask them to bring some Dawn dishwashing soap so it could be mixed in with water to spray on the bees and the hive, to make them unable to fly. The soap was added to the firetruck's water tank and the horses were sprayed with soapy water which killed the bees. "The Comanche firefighters and Ramierez donned the bee suits and proceeded to do what they could to clear the bees that remained on the horses," he said. In the process, one of them kicked Ramirez but he continued working to save the animals. The horses were finally moved away from the bees, but sustained tens of thousands of stings, many of them around the their eyes nostrils and mouths. "Their bodies were covered in welts," said Hillman. A local veterinarian and vet tech arrived to treat the horses but unfortunately, their injuries from the massive numbers of bee stings were too great and all three horses died. 'I just hope the story can get out there so people can be aware,' said Hillman. 'You hear that the Africanized bees are here and that they're around but you don't realize what that means. If they can kill three horses, what could they do to kids or an elderly person that can't run.' "They just had tens of thousands of stings all over their bodies," Hillman said. The three were all American quarter horses, nine-year-old Clovis, five-year-old Pepper and six-year-old Ace. "James is a rodeo cowboy with the PRCA Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association. I compete as an amateur," said Hillman. "Pepper was my up-and-coming carrel horse, Clovis was my team roping horse. Ace was James' up-and-coming calf roping horse," she said. Clovis died in the couple's backyard within hours. "His head swelled up and we think he died of a seizure," she said. Both Ace and Pepper made it to the veterinarian. Despite working on Ace for 45 minutes, they were unable to save her from massive seizures and eventually had to euthanize her. Pepper's throat swelled up so much the veterinarian had to perform a tracheotomy so she could breath. But after a day, she too ended up having seizures and died. After some hours the authorities were able to work out what had happened. The grass in the front lawn had been allowed to grow uncut during the spring, for the horses, so the owners had not been out into the area to inspect it. Next door, the neighbors had just mowed their lawn early that morning. "Bees are pretty dormant in the cool mornings, then when the temperature started to warm up, the bees came out and were upset and they found the horses and attacked them," said Stalnacker. The hive was discovered in a tree just at the property line between the two houses. A beekeeper who came to take down the hive told the couple he believed it might have been an existing honey bee hive that was taken over by killer bees. Known as usurpation, Africanized honey bees are known to do this, killing the resident queen. Prior to the attack, Hillman said she'd never once been stung by a bee. The bees are believed to be Africanized, a cross between local honey bees and African honey bees that first appeared in 1956, when a beekeeper in Brazil accidentally released 26 Tanzanian queen bees and their swarms into the wild. The bees had been brought from Africa in an attempt to increase honey production. Once they escaped, they thrived. While similar in appearance to common honey bees, the African bees are much more dangerous. They have a high tendency to swarm and exhibit highly defensive behavior, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. By the early 1990s Africanized bees began showing up in the southern United States and have now been found in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Invasive Species Information Center. Killer bees have been seen in the area before, said Stalnacker. "Last year an individual was clearing some land and disturbed a hollow tree that had bees in it and they went after him," he said. "They placed the gentleman in the back of a truck and they raced down the road – it was half a mile before the bees gave up." (This story has been updated to add new information.) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bees swarm, attack and kill 3 horses in Texas
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Swarm of 'relentless' bees kill Texas family's beloved rodeo horses, firefighters say
COMANCHE, Texas – A vicious bee swarm launched a deadly attack on a Texas family's cluster of cherished rodeo horses, resulting in the loss of all three animals, fire officials said. The Comanche Volunteer Fire Department responded to the call last Friday just outside the city limits. When they arrived on scene, they said they found the horses' owners suffering from numerous bee stings sustained while trying to move their animals to safety. Paramedics provided immediate medical attention and rushed the injured individuals to the hospital. Due to the severity of the situation, a neighboring fire department was called in to provide additional bee suits, as local firefighters had only recently acquired their own. What Is 'No Mow May'? It's A Way To Save The Bees Firefighters used soapy water from their brush truck to spray the horses in an attempt to stop the aggressive insects. Despite their efforts, the horses endured hundreds of stings, particularly concentrated around their eyes, nostrils and mouths, authorities said. A local veterinarian arrived shortly after to administer treatment. Where Do Bees Go In The Winter? An exterminator managed to locate the bees' hive in a tree in the front yard – a location where the horses had been moved earlier that morning, firefighters said. The owners were unaware of the hive's presence. Referencing a post by the horses' owners, the first department said all three animals had been taken to an equine vet. Unfortunately, they succumbed to the venom and related organ failure. "While all livestock is valuable, these horses were rodeo stock and were 'family' to the owners," firefighters said. Firefighters suspect the bees involved in the attack were Africanized bees, due to the "very aggressive and relentless attack." However, authorities stressed that any bee colony can become aggressive when it perceives a threat to its hive. "Please, please be mindful of your surroundings, as this time of year, bees are moving," firefighters said. "Rains have caused many wildflowers to bloom. The bees are active and will become more active as the weather warms." Millions Of Bees Die From Heat On Tarmac At Atlanta's Airport The Comanche Volunteer Fire Department said local fire departments typically handle several bee-related calls each spring and summer. Their policy is not to remove bee colonies unless there is an immediate and serious threat to people, pets or livestock. "Bees will find holes in trees – dead or alive, holes or openings in buildings – vacant or not, brush piles, junk vehicles, and even holes in the ground," the department said. The best practice if a hive is found is to avoid it, authorities article source: Swarm of 'relentless' bees kill Texas family's beloved rodeo horses, firefighters say
