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Africanized ‘killer’ bees<br>make their way to Grand Canyon

GC VILLAGE — Africanized "killer" bees can now be found at Grand Canyon.

The National Park Service has taken notice of these visitors who intend to become residents. Grand Canyon National Park safety officer Don Singer reported last week that there have been sightings of the bees in the area.

"We’re dealing with a hive at Indian Garden now," said Singer, who added that the bees have actually been in the river and rim areas over the past few years. "That’s the only hive we’re aware of at this time. We want to know if anyone else sees any hives."

A couple of swarms have been spotted on the South Rim. Singer said there was a sighting of a swarm near Yaki Point proceeding into the woods. Another swarm in the village area was spotted by a cyclist.

"Africanized bees swarm more often, eight or nine times per year" Singer said. "They’re spreading rapidly. We’ll see more hives."

The killer bee swarms do not fly out to randomly attack unlucky victims, but are looking for a home. Still, for those who encounter swarms of bees, use caution because they are highly defensive insects.

"We’ve had no serious stinging incidents at Grand Canyon," Singer said. "There have been some minor stings over the past few weeks down along the river."

The bees have been sighted all along the river over the past few years from Lee’s Ferry to Lake Mead. They’ve even been found on the peaks near Flagstaff at an elevation of 9,000 feet.

"All 18 counties in Arizona have Africanized bees," said Singer, who avoids the "killer bee" label, a reference to their aggressive behavior. "The Carl Hayden Bee Research Center in Tucson says a feral (or wild) hive should be considered Africanized. Ninety-eight percent in Phoenix are Africanized. All at Grand Canyon have come back Africanized."

Singer’s goal is to educate the public about the dangers of Africanized bees and let people know they should call authorities if a hive is spotted.

"It’s an educational thing, letting people know they’re there," he said. "Sixty percent of the attacks are from people using things like lawn mowers, weedeaters, motorized equipment."

Singer advises people to inspect their yards, especially if yard work is planned. Vibrations or loud noises alarm the bees and even the odor of freshly cut grass disturbs the bees, which are very sensitive to smells.

"In the park, we will remove hives that threaten humans, pets or livestock," Singer said.

The Africanized bees’ appearance does not differ from regular honey bees, only their behavior. Both groups of bees have the same venom, but the Africanized bees attack together and the victim has to endure multiple stings.

Singer added that people should not confuse bees with yellowjackets, which are wasps, now visible around the village. Yellowjackets have more narrow bodies with a brighter yellow color.

The Africanized bees will chase people up to a quarter of a mile, compared to regular honey bees who may chase for about 100 yards.

"What should you do if you’re attacked? Run. Run to shelter, a vehicle, house," Singer said. "If you’re on a trail ... you should probably run a quarter mile or more. If there are corners, that helps them lose their line of sight and they may give up on the chase."

Among the other advice to avoid being stung:

o Stay away from honey bee colonies. Bees nest in a wide variety of locations. Be alert for bees entering or leaving an entrance or opening. Listen for buzzing sounds. Climbers should be especially alert because bees often nest under rocks or within crevices.

o If a colony of bees is found, leave them alone and keep others away. Do not shoot, throw rocks or otherwise disturb the bees. If the colony is near a trail or areas frequently used by people, notify park dispatch, even if the bees appear to be docile.

o Wear appropriate clothing. Wear light-colored clothes, including socks. Avoid wearing leather. When bees defend their nests, they target objects resembling their natural predators, such as bears and skunks. Therefore, they tend to go after dark, leathery or furry objects.

o Avoid wearing scents while hiking or working outside. The bees communicate using scents and tend to be sensitive to odors. If riding, avoid using fly control products on horses or mules with a lemon or citrus odor. Such scents have been known to attract or provoke bees.

o Use caution when using machinery. Bees are alarmed by the vibration and loud noises. Bees have been known to set up housekeeping around houses but also in places like soda cans or in trees.

o Pet safety. While hiking, keep dogs on a leash and under close control. An animal bounding through the brush is likely to disturb a colony and be attacked. When the animal returns to its master, it will bring the attacking bees with it.

Since 1990 when the Africanized bees first appeared in Texas, there have been around a half dozen killed, Singer said. In comparison, 70 to 90 people have been killed by regular bees because of allergic reactions.

Singer said the average person can safely tolerate 10 stings per pound of body weight. Therefore, a 150-pound person could endure 1,500 stings. However, a child could be killed with 500 stings. Children, the elderly and pets are among the biggest risks.

The NPS is working on a long-range plan for the park in response to the presence of the bees.

For those who believe they’ve encountered an Africanized bee hive, contact NPS dispatch.

What to do if attacked

GCNP safety officer Don Singer offers the following advice for those who may be attacked by Africanized honey bees:

o Run away quickly. Do not stop to help others. However, small children and the handicapped may need some assistance.

o As you are running, pull your shirt up over your head to protect your face but make sure it does not slow your progress. This will help keep the bees from targeting the sensitive areas around your head and eyes.

o Continue to run. Do not stop running until you reach shelter, such as a vehicle or building. Do not jump into water. The bees will wait for you to come up for air. If you are trapped for some reason, cover up with blankets, sleeping bags, clothes or whatever else is immediately available.

o Do not swat at the bees or flail your arms. Bees are attracted to movement and crushed bees emit a smell that will attract more bees.

o Once reaching shelter or outrunning the bees, remove all stingers. When a honey bee stings, it leaves its stinger in the skin. This kills the honey bee so it can’t sting again, but it also means the venom continues to enter the wound for a short time.

o There are two thoughts on stinger removal. The first, do not pull stingers out with tweezers or fingers because that only squeezes more venom into the wound. Instead, scrape the stinger out sideways using your fingernail, the edge of a credit card, a dull knife blade, etc. The second method points to removing the stinger as soon as possible using any method available, using your fingers, tweezers, brushing them off, etc. A bee stinger has a venom sac attached to it and will continue to pump venom until it is removed or it empties. Time is the most important aspect in stinger removal, so the sooner the stringer is removed, the quicker the venom stops being injected.

o If you see someone being attacked by bees, encourage them to run away or seek shelter. Do not attempt to rescue them yourself. Call 911 to report a serious stinging attack. The emergency response personnel in your area have probably been trained to handle bee attacks.

o If stung more than 15 times or feeling ill or if you may be allergic to bee stings, seek medical attention immediately.


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