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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
USA Today
15-05-2025
- General
- USA Today
Bees swarm, attack and kill 3 horses in Texas: 'They didn't give up'
Bees swarm, attack and kill 3 horses in Texas: 'They didn't give up' The bees are believed to be Africanized honey bees — known as killer bees. After the attack, a huge hive of millions of bees was found. Show Caption Hide Caption Time to change your mind about having carpenter bees in your garden Discover why carpenter bees, despite their bad rap, are essential pollinators and how to coexist peacefully with them in your garden. 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. Hours of fighting the bees 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.' An enormous but unsuspected hive 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. What are killer bees? 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.
Miami Herald
14-05-2025
- Miami Herald
‘Relentless' killer bees swarm and kill beloved rodeo horses, Texas officials say
An angry swarm of killer bees attacked and ultimately killed a trio of prized rodeo horses on a central Texas ranch, officials said. The bees also attacked the horses' owners in the May 9 incident, the owners and Comanche Volunteer Fire Department said in posts on Facebook. 'Yesterday was the scariest day of my life,' owner Baillie Hillman said in the post. 'It was a day you see only in horror films and made up nightmares.' Hillman went on to describe how she and three of her horses were swarmed by African killer honey bees after letting the horses out that morning to graze in the front yard — where the owners didn't know the bees had built a hive in one of the trees. Hillman checked on the horses from the window later that morning but didn't see them grazing the way she expected. Instead, they were 'standing still with their heads between their legs,' she said. 'There was a black cloud around them and I thought it was just an insane amount of flies,' she said. She ran over to move the horses — and realized the black cloud was a swarm of 'millions of bees attacking my horses and now attacking me,' she said. 'They were filling my glasses and my ears and dive bombing my head,' she said. 'They dug into the bun on my head and got caught in my hair.' To make matters worse, the horses seemed to have frozen up and wouldn't budge, she said. She called her husband, James, and 911 for help. 'Maybe the fire department could come and spray the horses,' she said. 'Maybe they had something, anything to free my horses from the terror.' Volunteer fire officials arrived with bee suits and added soap to the firetruck's water tank to spray the horses with soapy water in an attempt to stop the bees, the department said in a May 12 post on Facebook. Rescuers took Hillman and her husband into the ambulance to treat their stings. 'The horses were finally moved away from the bees, but sustained hundreds of bee stings many of them around the horses' eyes nostrils and mouths,' the department said. A local veterinarian arrived with a veterinary technician to treat the horses, while a local exterminator found the hive in the front yard. 'Sparing you from the absolutely unimaginable gory details, my head horse Clovis died in my back yard from anaphylactic shock,' Hillman said. Her husband's horse, Ace, was euthanized at an equine veterinary facility 'after she went into a seizure they couldn't get her out of.' 'The vet said she's never seen anything like this before,' Hillman said. Hillman's 5-year-old 'spit fire' mare named Pepper was left that night 'fighting for her life' in the veterinary intensive care unit. But the next night, the mare seized and died, Hillman said in an update. 'They pumped her full of everything trying to bring her body out of shock but it was just too much for her little body to handle,' Hillman said. Hillman and the department urged residents in the area to be extra careful this time of year. 'It is assumed that the bees in this attack were the dreaded and feared Africanized bees due to the very aggressive and relentless attack on the people and horses, but all bees will become aggressive when defending a perceived threat against the hive,' the volunteer fire department said. 'The local fire departments respond to several 'bee calls' each spring and in to summer…. 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 best practice if a hive is found is to avoid it,' the department said. 'It seems most of the time a hive is found after it has been accidentally disturbed. However, the more aggressive Africanized bees will become aggressive when the perceived threat gets 'too close'. There is no established marker or boundary for what is 'too close' as engine noise from a mower or other loud noises many feet away can disturb the bees. Be vigilant and carefully check old buildings or old trees if any work will be conducted around them.' Hillman urged others to inspect their trees and property for bees. 'Spray the foam on them so the hives can't form in them,' she said. 'Have a pest control guy come out in April every year to check them when they are more dormant. I promise you it's worth it.' Comanche is about a 115-mile drive southwest from Fort Worth.
