Bee Attack Warnings Are Being Issued To The Public In Response To An Attack That Put A Man In Critical Condition
It is unfortunate that we humans have to share the world with so many creatures that can easily kill us, but as long as we remain mindful of our actions while outdoors, we should be able to avoid deadly animal encounters. However, bees and other stinging insects can seemingly appear out of nowhere before descending upon unsuspecting groups of people. While many wasp species can be aggressive toward humans who unknowingly make contact with their obscured nests, most bee species are not terribly aggressive. Unless, of course, the bee species in question is the Africanized honey bee, also known as killer bees. Most people seem to think that killer bee attacks are rare, but this is not necessarily true. Already this year, multiple people have undergone killer bee attacks, and some of these victims have died as a result. The latest killer bee casualty is a 77 year old man who sustained a massive number of stings in Breckenridge, Colorado. The residents of Breckinridge are now being warned about killer bee attacks by city officials.
On September 15th the Breckinridge Fire Chief told reporters that Kenneth Roy LaFavers had been attacked by Africanized honey bees while mowing his lawn in the Colorado city. LaFavers is currently in critical condition at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene. The hive where the dangerous bees originated was found on a part of an eave that borders LaFaver’s home. A bee-removal company will be taking and disposing of the hive, which is located 25 feet from the ground. However, before the hive is removed, the company will have to carefully assess the hive and its location due it its deadly inhabitants. Once the hive is removed, the bee-friendly company will replant the hive within a safe location. It is not clear why the bees attacked LaFaver, but experts say that the bees were likely in a defensive mode due to a need to protect their food source before the fall season arrives.
Have you ever spotted a hive that you think housed Africanized honey bees?