Oh spring, you sure do carry a lot of gifts. Sunshine and the beautiful weather, birds’ song, flowers, but it’s not all milk and honey, there are bees, fatigue, and allergies as well. You probably know how to handle the spring fatigue and allergies by now, but you probably haven’t expected the bees.
Well, spring is the swarming season, so chances are you just might come across them, and it’s best to be prepared should it happen. Most people just panic and don’t know what to do. The situation can be quite dangerous, yet there is no reason to panic if you know the basic dos and don’ts when it comes bee handling. Here is a short list coming from professionals at Bee Busters of things you should, and more importantly shouldn’t do if you encounter these buzzing honey-makers.
Buzz Off
First thing first, let us see what to do in case you unexpectedly encounter (or summon, and we’ll later see how to avoid that) bee swarms. In case you know about bee swarms or colonies in your surroundings or spontaneously notice them, keep as far as possible from them. Do not panic if you encounter them, but quietly retreat until you can see no bees around you.
In case the situation is really serious and you are forced to run, make sure to cover your face and arms, and take a proper shelter, i.e. a building or a car, nothing less, as soon as possible. As a general rule, don’t tease or disturb the bees, don’t try to spray them with water or any chemicals, don’t shoot at them, don’t throw rocks; just don’t do anything in an attempt to “destroy” them. You will only provoke them and make the situation worse.
Listen Carefully
If you live in a house, or somewhere close to nature (especially, but not exclusively) you might want to take some precaution before the potential encounter and be ready in case it happens. There are a few things you can do to check if you have any buzzing neighbors.
First of all, pay attention to strange, unidentified buzzing sounds. If you notice bees flying in straight lines back and forth, that’s another sign for concern. Make sure you cautiously examine all the facilities such as sheds, and to check work areas before using lawn mowers or any other power equipment. Before you use any of the similar equipment, like chainsaws, tractors, hedge clipper, weed eaters and the likes, make sure your kids and pets are inside, even though you have previously examined the areas since bees are attracted by loud vibrations and strange odors.
Why Swarms Form
If the colony becomes too big for its hive, a new queen will hatch and lead half of the colony away from the old hive. Before they pick a spot to permanently call their home, they will swarm in large numbers and temporarily land on trees, houses, or other objects. They are just passing by and won’t attack if not provoked.
If there are beekeepers around, they might be interested in capturing the queen and finding home for the entire swarm peacefully and humanely.
What if Someone Is Stung?
If you or someone around you gets stung by a bee or more of them, try to remain calm and think straight. Take shelter as soon as possible, and first thing, without delay, remove all the strings. You can use your nails, or a credit card, for instance, if you have one at hand. You can also do it just with your fingers, the method is eventually irrelevant, taking the sting(s) is crucial. After that, wash the area with water and soap and apply ice pads for some time.
Of course, if the number of stings is bigger, seek immediate medical help, while still removing the stings immediately. Try to count them as this information can be of great help and importance, and pay close attention to breathing and vision difficulties.
Having all this in mind, the most important thing is to remain calm as much as possible, think straight and not panic, as it really won’t help. It will only make the situation worse than it is. This is a serious matter, yet everything can be resolved in the best possible way if you react in a proper and timely manner.
