Africanized Bees and Hiking Safety

[Perry]

This happened yesterday in Palm Desert:
http://www.mydesert.com/article/2014030 ... alm-Desert

Does anybody have some good advice for hikers? In an urban environment it's possible to run inside a building or run farther than the bees want to go away from their hive. But what if you're on a rocky trail with a bunch of switchbacks?

[cynthia23]

I don't have any advice other than to run like hell, but one thing I'd point out is that given how severe the drought is, there are not that many bees out on the trails, or at least not as many as normal. During wet years I have seen large numbers of bees in a cleft that is at about 1600 feet on Skyline. I went by there three weeks ago and noticed there are still some bees going in an out of that cleft, but not many.

Actually I'm not sure I have ever heard of any hikers around here being attacked by bees. Maybe the type of bees who are in urban areas--golf courses and the like--are different from the type that live up on the trails in the clefts.

Any apiarists want to buzz in on this?

[neverwashasbeen]

There have been documented bee attacks in Joshua Tree NP. Bees are out in the area, it is swarming time and they are on the move. Stay away as much as possible, don't do anything threatening to the bees and try not to act too excited. Running works(sort of), after about a quarter of a mile they tend to give up. Local vector control in the desert says that all bees are hybred in this area, good news is they are not as likely to attack as the original "killer bees", but they are still more easily agitated than the "pure" European honeybee. If you are allergic, make sure you carry epipens and some method to call for help. For the rest of us, benadryl is good idea to have. Stay safe.

[smiles]

I am confident a buddy of mine & I came across these, or at least some VERY aggressive ones when hiking up the Pacific Crest Trail from Snow Creek Village in May of 2012. We encountered a rock outcropping a little above 3,000 feet in the dawn hour, and they came out from a crack in the rocks. We ran like hell uphill and escaped with a couple stings to the neck. This hike was an out and back to Fuller Ridge area, so we had the misfortune of meeting them a second time on the descent -- and got stung again. MISERY

[HH8]

bees-found-Palm-Desert

After all the complaints about not enough bees for the crops, where are they relocating them?

[Ed]

I was stung by a wasp once, on the forearm, hiking on a trail below timberline in the Sierras. Felt like someone hit me with a hammer, as hard as they could swing it. Swelled up into something that looked like an active volcano, and took weeks to heal. It left me with a permanent fear of bees and wasps.

Unfortunately, narrow trails on steep terrain or hemmed in by thick brush often don't leave you with a good exit. And I've had that problem with rattlesnakes as well. Worst is when you are hiking with your dog, and have someone else to worry about as well as yourself.

[Ken]

"Does anybody have some good advice for hikers? In an urban environment it's possible to run inside a building or run farther than the bees want to go away from their hive. But what if you're on a rocky trail with a bunch of switchbacks?"

Run downhill.

[Andy]

About all you can do is react quick and run like hell, preferably Into the wind or whichever direction affords the fastest retreat ...then run some more. I'm allergic and carry an epi-pen (usually) but regardless a couple stings is better than hundreds...

Just a note, the honey bee is non-native to North America. I'm a big fan of its contribution to agriculture but when they're aggressive they're right up there with Argentine ants as pests.

[Perry]

It's a good thing the wind always blows uphill.

Some of the Internet sites suggest protecting your eyes as you run away, wearing light colored clothing, and know that bees head-butting you is a warning message to stay away from their nest. It seems silly to carry goggles around but makes sense if this becomes a problem on trails...

The bees got relocated to the east part of the valley.
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... 4303070020

After reading the second article, it appears less likely that a hiker would experience the same thing. The Verizon worker had opened the box and disrupted the whole nest.