BEE ELIMINATION NOT "DO IT YOURSELF" JOB                   [articles]

"Bee's and people don't mix, not when they're Africanized Bees and when it comes to rogue bee colonies DON'T TRY TO ELIMINATE THEM YOURSELF" says Jim Dye of Border Pest Control. "This is how some people are winding up in the hospital."

"I am amazed that even with all the media attention, we still get calls after a home owner has been to the hospital or because his dogs or livestock have been killed, because he attempted to rid his home of rogue bees himself" says Dye, who is co-owner and president of Border Pest Control. "It's just not worth taking the chance, call a pest management professional."

"Last year we eliminated over 30 of these rogue hives and most were very aggressive. We no longer send samples to determine if they are Africanized. Now that we know they are here, assume that they are Africanized and you'll be safer. Samples of bees are usually only being requested in areas where Africanized bees have not been found."

"One particular treatment we made a couple of years ago left 290 stingers in the technicians bee suit. If that happened to an unprotected person, they would have gone to the hospital or worse yet, they may have died. We now carry bee suits in all our company vehicles because we just never know when or where we'll need them."

"In another more recent event, a lady had to be removed from her home and taken to a neighbors house because she was being attacked inside the home. The bees were getting in somehow, but she couldn't go out because the bees were worse outside. When she did come outside to meet me she was stung another six times or so. The bees followed her from the house out about 50 yards to my truck. I quickly got her in my truck and drove her to a friends house down the road."

"We use various methods to eliminate hives. Sometimes all it takes is a garbage bag or soapy water, but we always use a bee suit. We will usually apply a residual pesticide unless they are in a swarm. It is also best to remove cones and honey whenever possible."

"State law does requires that anyone applying pesticides for hire, must have a pesticide applicators license. In other words, call a licensed pest control company, they have all the tools needed to do the job safely, in any situation."