Bee Swarm

ck_1 · Post by **ck_1** » Aug 02 2002 11:23 pm

OK....so I read this article today
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... ng-ON.html

and it got me thinking...if you're out hiking somewhere and have a similar encounter...what the stinkin mugrat do you do?

Nighthiker · Post by **Nighthiker** » Aug 03 2002 7:11 am

I have had several encounters near Florence Jct. What I found best is to run in a straight line for apx. 20 yards before zig zaging thru tree limbs (its also a good way to encounter snakes). Light color clothing may help avoid an encounter, but not always. When the bees are overly protective they will move on you even though you are wearing white, blue and yellow. I have noted they did not seem to mind olive and sage colored clothing though If they are riled up, clothing color does not matter.

azhiker96 · Post by **azhiker96** » Aug 03 2002 12:03 pm

Running is the best thing to do if you're hiking. I would not stop at 20 yards though. I once watched my brother get hit about 6 times by a bumblebee. He'd dash about 15 yards and get ahead of it. Then when he'd stop to turn and see if it was following it would catch up and hit him. That happened about 4 times until I told him to run to the end of the field.
If there's several bees I'd probably drop my pack and take off. Make sure you pay attention to the trail so you don't twist an ankle and make matters worse. As you run, shake your clothes and wipe your arms, neck, etc. to dislodge any hitchhiking bees.
If they're nearby, dash inside the house or car and close the door behind you. There may be a few bees that make it in with you but now you only have a few to kill, rather than the whole hive/swarm. The natural inclination is to stay outside because you don't want bees in the house. I'll take on a dozen bees in the house as opposed to fighting a few thousand outside.
I've encountered an angry bee or two on south mountain near hidden valley and also on the Papago Buttes. The time to make tracks is with the first bee. Also, never swat to discourage a bee. Either kill it outright or get away. When I have a lone bee giving an angry buzz I start a quick step hike. If he hangs for more than about 10 yards then I break into a jog and keep that up for at least 50 yards. I've not been stung in the wild using this technique.
Honey bees are excited by sweat and dark clothing which is why bee keepers usually wear light, white coveralls. When they get agitated their buzz will be loud and they will make quick movements. That buzz is a message to you to leave and also a call for help from their sisters.
When hiking, avoid sugared drinks if possible. The bees can smell the sugar and will come in for a free meal. They leave diet drinks alone. Apparently they can tell the difference between sugar and aspartame.
Lastly, if you are allergic then always carry your epi pen. If you have hiking partners, let then know about it and how to administer it.

CindyC · Post by **CindyC** » Aug 03 2002 12:27 pm

That epi pen is a good thing. If you are allergic never forget it. 11 yrs ago I went up to the Big Lake area with a friend. Before we found a campspot we got a flat tire. Changing to the spare we dropped off the tire and went to find a spot to camp about 20 min away. As we were setting up camp we noticed that there apparently was a hive in a fallen log. As he went to check it out he was stung only once. He said it was no big deal and didn't mention his allergy. We went to pick up the tire at the store at Big Lake and as he changed it I went inside to pay. When I returned to our car his face was so swollen I could barely recognize him ( anyone ever see 'Dumb Luck' with Martin Short?). That was when he told me he was allergic (duh) and that he had forgotten his epi pen. The owners of the store wanted to call an air evac but he insisted we drive to the hospital, closest one being in Springerville. Believe it or nor he wanted to go back to camp and load up his gear, and he wanted to drive! Didn't happen. I hauled butt to the hospital and half way there he was heaving and doubled over with chest pains. I honestly thought he was going to die. We spent the rest of the day at the hospital. And the night in a motel in Springerville. Needless to say because of his 'macho' attitude and lack of informing me we never camped again. But it sure has made me realize how something so simple can be so important.

Unregistered · Post by **Unregistered** » Aug 03 2002 12:48 pm

My Girlfriend and I ran into a couple of hives on the South Mountain
Hidden Valley trail last weekend. It stopped our jaunt cold. We didn't want
to see what the outcome would have been if we attempted to get past. The
eerie thing about it all was the super loud buzzing while actually only seeing just a couple dozen. Didn't want to mess with Mother Nature.

Cakewalk · Post by **Cakewalk** » Aug 03 2002 1:43 pm

Ive encountered in Glendale too....

"Big circle around" is my motto

jeremy77777 · Post by **jeremy77777** » Aug 03 2002 9:15 pm

I am one of those people who have been attacked by bees. I almost died from the stings. I was only stung 17 times but I had a bad reaction. My heart almost stopped and I had to be on this funky medication for a while. If I would have run in the right direction I may have gotten away unharmed, but I ran right into the hive. Talk about stupid. But then again, I was only 16

joebartels · Post by **joebartels** » Aug 03 2002 9:33 pm

Okay what'da we have here...

Don't backpack with Randy over a week

Lemme add to my notes:
Don't follow jeremy near bees

AZHiker · Post by **AZHiker** » Aug 03 2002 10:00 pm

Although I am not allergic to bee stings (I think), encountering an angry swarm of Africanized killer bees is my greatest fear when I hike alone. Not snakes, not bears nor any other critter. Them bees are mean, aggressive, and do serious damage. Just look what they did to that guy last Friday who ended up in the hospital, and killed his girlfriend. Hate to be attacked somewhere in the wilderness, miles from the trailhead.

Abe · Post by **Abe** » Aug 04 2002 6:39 am

Yes a concern of mine as well, considering I hike alone. As yet, I have not seen any killer bees, but I will keep the above suggestions in mind.

BoyNhisDog · Post by **BoyNhisDog** » Aug 04 2002 8:36 am

No personal experiece other than being stung many times as a kid messing with them.

The book I have says: Do not freeze and do not swat at them, Run away. Get indoors as soon as you can. ( out of the question if you are not around civilization), If no shelter is available, run through bushes or high weeds, do not jump into a swimming pool or other body of water, the bees are likely to be waiting for you when you surface. It goes on to say how to minimize risks and that entails not bothering them which may fall under running into their hive.

jeremy77777 · Post by **jeremy77777** » Aug 04 2002 9:15 am

Cakewalk · Post by **Cakewalk** » Aug 04 2002 7:00 pm

Or is it

Oh Bee Wise!

Unregistered · Post by **Unregistered** » Aug 04 2002 11:52 pm

Hind (read Kind) sight is 20/20.

Daryl · Post by **Daryl** » Aug 05 2002 7:05 am

Lots of good advice on this thread. A couple of things to add:
If you run to your car while running from bees, turn on the A/C as high as it goes. Apparently the AC "cools them off" and the ones that followed you in the car are less likely to sting.
VERY IMPORTANT! if you see even one bee, do not kill it. I made this mistake once. One bee was hanging out by my cooler. I killed it and minutes later there were 10-20 of them. When they sting you they release a scent that attracts the other bees and tells them to attack. It's like a homing becon. When you kill them they also release the scent.