africanized bee attack on South Mountain

[azdesertfather]

Did you hear the news about what happened to the hiker on South Mountain on Monday? He was stung by Africanized bees hundreds of times and still is in pretty serious condition. He tried running, and soon collapsed. There were so many that even nearby hikers, police and forest rangers couldn't help, they had to wait for six guys to arrive suited up in bee gear to tie the poor guy onto a gurney and have him taken off via helicopter. If you haven't read the story or seen the video, you can see it at on the azcentral.

I have to tell you all, this type of thing concerns me on the desert trails around Phoenix more than anything else...more than the gila monsters, the scorpions, the rattlesnakes...because they are sometimes difficult to spot out there, give no warning, and don't stop attacking. And since they were first spotted in the U.S. in 2004, the number of incidents in Arizona just keeps skyrocketing. In a sense, he was fortunate, in that at least he was hiking on a trail in the Valley, with people around. If you are caught out on one of the more remote desert trails, not as well traveled by hikers, a few miles from your car and out of cell phone range, then well, it's just SOL for you. :-({|=

The news report made it a note to say that he had wandered 150 yards off the trail. But let's face it, that alone doesn't prevent this sort of thing. A couple of weeks ago I was on a trail on Silly Mountain outside of A.J., and was stung. I'm assuming it wasn't an africanized swarm, but let me tell ya, I didn't stick around long enough to find out...I flicked his stinger/butt off and got away from there. The nest though was located on the trail itself, on the ground in a little hole the size of the ones that these ground squirrels make everywhere.

Have any of you had any experiences with africanized bees out there on the trail, or is this so rare that it shouldn't be a real concern in your mind? Have you heard of anything that has worked to limit an attack if you unknowingly come up on one of these swarms? My guess is no...I've heard one say that wearing white on the trail helps limit that, but I don't know. On the Backcountry Forum site a guy said "If you keep your eyes open and keep listening, you should have no problems with bees, wasps, or hornets. Insect repellents will keep them away, as well as mosquitos, black flies, and noseeums." Really? Just spray yourself with insect repellent and listen well? I literally did not hear that swarm that day on Silly Mountain at all, the hole opening was so small, the ground insulated most all of their noise. Another guy said just carry an epipen with you...which is a good idea if you are allergic to any sort of stings, but frankly, if you're stung 100+ times and they're still chasing you, not sure how much good stopping to inject yourself is going to be.

Love to hear what wisdom some of you hardcore hikers can bestow ... :stretch:

dave

[azbackpackr]

Bees which are truly in swarming mode rarely attack. They are looking for a new home, not defending an existing one. That is why you see photos of beekeepers holding swarms, or arranging swarms to look like a big beards on their faces.

I too have always heard you should run like heck to get away from them if a mob of them starts stinging you.

[DANJF15]

On another note, Are most of Arizona's honeybees Africanized or is their still some European honeybees left?