Pusch Peak Bees

[Jim]

Since there are a few mentions in logs and comments, and because people might not read those before going, I will attempt a public service announcement here.

There is a swarm or hive of angry and aggressive Africanized bees in the lower section of the canyon portion of Pusch Peak's social trail extension off of the Linda Vista Loop. It is located in a group of boulders, shortly after the trail begins to get steep. It is, however, far enough above a less steep section of trail that outrunning in either direction is very hard, as that area of trail is both steep, was heavily used this winter despite that theoretical closure of Pusch Ridge, and it is highly eroded as a result. In other words, it is extremely hard to outrun going up, and my injured ankle skin lets me know that going down can be dangerous. Because the swarm was coming in and out of a group of rocks that are literally right on the trail, it seems that getting past this point is now nearly impossible until the colony is exterminated.

This directly affects Pusch Peak and Pusch's Flatiron, and could affect the Linda Vista Loop. The Pusch Ridge re-opens to the public population of hikers May 1, and hopefully these bees will be removed by Game and Fish, or some other agency, as my expectation is that they use the trail for sheep monitoring, and the bees, being so aggressive, could affect the sheep.

It was reported in a comment to a log, that a sign was placed either at the trailhead or at the start of the social trail extension, stating that the area was closed due to the Africanized Bees. However, that sign is now gone. Hopefully, the bees are eliminated, but if people go up there and encounter them, it would be nice to report it to someone who might have an interest in removing the bees. Game and Fish, may have an interest due to protecting the sheep and monitoring them in that area. The USFS might, but they seem like they might not care and probably don't have the money. Pima County or Oro Valley Parks and recreation, is a good idea, too. Keep in mind, that May 1, is when the area is legally open to hikers. HUNTERS are allowed access at all times. Otherwise, the more reports about the bees to an agency that could remove them, the more likely that is to happen. May 1, people.

If you chose to go and they attack you, the best I can offer is to not crush them on you, as that releases a pheromone that makes them more aggressive, which would explain why I was mildly harassed going up, but rapidly and aggressively attacked coming down. A hat keeps them out of your hair, but I was stung through my shirt and all over my neck. They like it up higher, so a towel over your face and neck might be a smart accessory. I like Pusch and all that, but until this nuisance of man's arrogance is handled (the exotic bees, not me), I won't go there, sister.

[azbackpackr]

Bee careful out there!

[SpiderLegs]

I got attacked a few years ago in Phoenix. I feel your pain, was lucky and got less than 20 stings.

[JasonCleghorn]

I got attacked a few years ago in Phoenix. I feel your pain, was lucky and got less than 20 stings.

Bees are known to smell estrogen a mile away...

[azdesertfather]

Sorry to hear that Jim. I remember them attack big someone last year this time, late April or early May. I avoid it this time of year, have not been since late March.

[PatrickL]

@Jason Cleghorn
zing!

[SpiderLegs]

I got attacked a few years ago in Phoenix. I feel your pain, was lucky and got less than 20 stings.

Bees are known to smell estrogen a mile away...

Dude, I'm going to remember this.

[msheridan1969]

Thanks for posting this Jim H. I joined this forum specifically to warn people of the same.

See my post 04/17 http://hikearizona.com/trip=116200

These bees were very aggressive and attacked without provocation more than 25 yards down hill from the hive. We did not see any sign warning of bees. When we got home a simple search on Google led us to this article from 2013 when a family including a six year old boy and two hikers were attacked and stung up to 200 times each and it looks like it was in the exact same place. See photo captioned " A medical helicopter hovers over the scene of a bee attack in Arizona, trying to dispel the insects." Unless people are warned, or something is done, I fear another family will be rushed to the hospital or worse.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nationa ... -1.1342765

[azbackpackr]

Thanks for posting, msheridan. It's nuts that the USFS or AZGFD have not brought in a bee removal service. People should just start making their phones ring off the hook.

[Jim]

I have low expectations for any outcomes with this issue. However, the Sheep and that trail being used to monitor them are one bright spot. I believe the USFS or Game and Fish do not want people on that mountain or trail, but I have no evidence of this, just suspicion based on the sign at the start of the trail. It saddens me, as this is one of the best trails in the Front Range leaving from the desert, especially in May to October when the south face trails are often too hot to hike or too hot to hike in full. Pusch was a huge bright spot for me last summer, and I was looking forward to potentially using it this year. I feel this may not be available due to an invasive species we created.

[chumley]

[The_Dude]

Thanks for the post Jim, I have been thinking about hitting this one up before the summer hits, maybe I will just wait a few more weeks and see how things work out (if at all). I generally prefer to avoid being swarmed, I mean catclaw and Agaves are one thing, but bees? Seriously??

[Jim]

I know there have recently been some triplogs for Pusch with people saying they never even noticed the bees. I don't know how, but I guess they didn't. I say this, because today I attempted Pusch Peak in the late afternoon and I found bees. I was some distance up, heading in to the canyon, when I notice a small post-it note left under a rock. Dated to 5/17, it stated that there were bees ahead with additional writing added by someone saying they were stung.

I proceeded cautiously from that point on, and nearing where I had been stung some time ago I crept along. I started see a group of bees buzzing on the trail ahead of me, and when I started to have bees land on my hat, I turned and descended. No hike up Pusch is worth the risk. I don't know how others got so lucky and never saw them, but I was not so today. Too bad, as with the hot weather Pusch was my main squeeze for excercise last summer and fall when hot. Blackett's ridge is no Pusch, that is for sure. Anyway, I will be contacting the Coronado NF and AZ Game and Fish to report them.

[outdoor_lover]

I doubt if Game and Fish will do anything...they don't care about Hikers and Bees...If it's along a Trail and it's Forest Service, they would be the ones to contact....

[Jim]

I was thinking they might care if they have people going up there to monitor the sheep.

[joebartels]

I don't know how others got so lucky and never saw them...

think they are less active in the early morning

[Jim]

Actually, I just re-read the logs, only Preston said he didn't encounter them, and he was out on a cool late afternoon. The other 3 did see them, but on the way down (1 group).

[azbackpackr]

So, let me get this straight. The Game and Fish Department would care about other non-native species, and spend millions of dollars eradicating various non-native animals and plants. But they would not care about Africanized bees, which are a non-native species, and which do sting wildlife!

Regular honeybees also are an introduced species, by the way. Then the Africanized ones came in from the south, back in the 90's, and bred with our familiar mild-tempered ones. Same species, but with a different personality!

Jim, if the state and the feds give you the run-around, try the county. They have some interest in invasive species management, according to their website. I'd lean on the FS the hardest, though.

[johnlp]

JJ and I saw no bees on our recent Pusch hike. As Joe said, morning is best. They are cold blooded.

[Jim]

Was that the one from a few weeks ago? Boone reported encountering them on your way down? It's warm enough now that the lows won't be low enough to have them inactive when headed down, which was when I was attacked in April.