A Massive Swarm Of Bees Attacked Pedestrians In A Busy Downtown Area, Leaving 21 Sting Victims In Its Wake

Most people may prefer the heat of summer to the freezing cold of winter, but if there is anything to look forward to in the fall and winter seasons, other than Halloween and Christmas, it would be the absence of blood-sucking and stinging insects. While it is true that mosquito populations plummet during the late fall and winter seasons, bees remain active all winter long. During the winter, bees huddle together within their nests in order to generate enough body heat to warm the entire colony. This means that bees tend to remain within the safety of their nests during the winter season in most US states. In America’s most southern states, bee swarms can still be spotted in the middle of winter. Residents of southern California know this very well, as California is home to numerous manmade bee colonies as well as several native bee species. Just days before Thanksgiving, a massive bee swarm descended upon a group of pedestrians at Huntington Beach. At least 20 people sustained bee stings and one individual was hospitalized due to injuries sustained.

Bee Control Experts

At around noon last Saturday, the fire department responded to a call from a resident who described an aggressive bee swarm located in an alley in between Sixth and Seventh streets near Pacific Coast Highway. According to the department spokesman, Eric Blaska, the swarm suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and there was nothing that instigated the attack. The fire department alerted residents via Twitter to avoid the entire block, and three fire engines arrived to block all entrances to the alley.

Firefighters attempted to disperse the massive bee swarm with spray-foam while public works employees searched the alley for hives while decked-out in protective gear. Strangely, no hives or nests could be found. Only hundreds of angry bees that seemingly appeared out of thin air. Three sting victims sought treatment for their injuries while another individual was hospitalized.

Have you ever found yourself bombarded by a swarm of flying insects that had no clear origin?