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The largest school on Ambergris Caye and other offices were evacuated this morning for safety purposes after a person was stung by bees. Jorge Aldana has the details in the following report.

Jorge Aldana - San Pedro Correspondent
Over 800 students and teachers were evacuated from the San Pedro Roman Catholic School after bees stung a student this morning. Not only were the students evacuated but the staff working at the offices of the Belize Tourism Board, The Minister of Tourism office and the public library were also evacuated. The school management informed the public health department that bees were seen in the school compound and that one student was stung. When the relevant authorities arrived they discovered the bee hive inside the space that separates the flat that houses the public library and the upper flat that houses BTB office and the Minister of Tourism Office; building that is located opposite the school.
According to San Pedro RC School Principal Roxanne Kay, it took the teachers about 20 minutes to get all 800 students off the compound to the central park.
A section of Barrier Reef Drive remains closed until all the bees are exterminated.

Reporting for Love News from San Pedro Town, I am Jorge Aldana.

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Are they the Africanized form?


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Bees should never be killed, but relocated. If they don't know how that information is readily available.

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Originally Posted by PROBUS
Bees should never be killed, but relocated. If they don't know how that information is readily available.


True true that


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All bees in Belize are Africanised. I don't know if we have people capable of relocating bees in San Pedro. I'm pretty sure it's done on the mainland though.


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The bees are a hybrid of Aficanized and can't remember the other species. Yes, they can be moved, contact the Honey Producers Association.

Last edited by Katie Valk; 06/02/11 03:42 PM.

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There are some folks that maintain bee hives on the island. Usually we need to send to the central farm for experts if we want a colony to be relocated -so it isn't always practical to wait.

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How long does it take for someone to get here from the mainland, in an emergency? If the alternative is exterminating valuable and scarce bees?

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Originally Posted by PROBUS
Bees should never be killed, but relocated. If they don't know how that information is readily available.

In San Pedro that would require quite a challenge to a logical postulation. You have a mindset where in the past dogs have been poisoned and you expect them to capture and relocate insects that can harm and potentially kill their children. confused

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I have a mindset that sees that across the world the inestimable value of bees has been recognised and wanton killing of them is in many places now illegal. Just as the killing of bats, but with even more just cause. It wouldn't take long for a bee expert to be flown to San Pedro from any part of Belize. It's just a question of will.

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No it is a question of money and time.

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Best place for a bee is at the end of the spray nozzle from a can of RAID! laugh

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AND - once you have killed all the bees what else dies???
No more honey, fruit, flowers, etc. Thoughless killing of bees is very short sighted. What? One kid got one sting???
Seems a bit over reactionary.


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all I can say is thank goodness the child that got stung was not allergic to them. Unlike my friend that got stung last week. By the time her husband rushed her to the hospital (10 min.) she was almost in anaphylactic shock. She now has an epi-pen in the house and has instructed her 5 year old how to use it (in case she is unable to) and also keeps one in her purse. I understand the importance of bees, but when bees are in close proximity to people and children (such as those were) in my opinion... a good bee is a dead bee.


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Yep, I am allergic too. And although I don't hate bees and don't want them all to be dead, I would totally freak if I were to get a bee attack (multiple stings) as it could be deadly.

Epi pens are expensive and difficult to get here. And you only find out kids are allergic to a sting after they have a reaction.

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Very true. So pro-active relocation of bees BEFORE they cause a problem is desirable. Did anyone in the bee community know there were bees near the High School, I wonder?

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I keep bees in an area that does have some Africanization (some of the wild bees have the genes). It is too bad they had to kill the bees, as was mentioned before bees are infinitely valuable to the environment. For future reference, it would be good if the local officials could locate beekeepers (since someone mentioned there are beekeepers on the island) who are capable of relocating the hive. Sometimes, hives in walls are difficult to relocate. the easiest way is with a beevac, but that isn't going to guarantee you'll get the queen. With bees that are heavily Africanized I'll bet it is a whole different story on how to capture them.

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Since it has been reported that all bees in Belize are 'Africanized' I guess the bunch that visit my bird bath everyday must be 'Africanized." They haven't bothered anyone up here and the birds share the feeders and bath with the bees.


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ScubaLdy, Africanised bees are not 'killers' as the media would have everyone believe. They just have the potential to be more aggressive and difficult to handle. They are more prone to swarming as far as I am aware. You shouldn't fear them or worry about them at all unless they are swarming.

I agree that it would be much better if we could rescue bee colonies that find themselves in inconvenient locations. Unfortunately, as in many other emergencies, it can be very difficult to organise support from the mainland when necessary. It may sound easy, but contacting people can be a challenge, then arranging a time that they are able/willing to help can be a further challenge, not to mention finding the funds to do so. It would be wonderful if the beekeepers in San Pedro could come up with a plan to provide a service here - but someone still will have to pay for it.

There is of course another species of 'stingless' bee in Belize but I'm sure someone here with expertise could give more info.


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bees of any kind only sting (or "attack) to protect the hive.

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Reed Booth from Bisbee AZ is a wealth of knowledge on removal and relocation of Africanized Bee Hives. http://www.killerbeeguy.com/hive-removal.aspx
Makes great honey too!

Amanda - Homeopathic Apis (made from Bee venom) is the "homeopathic Epi-pen." Anyone allergic to bee stings should keep some on hand. Actually good for any severe allergic reaction with red, hot, swelling...

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Originally Posted by collyk
You shouldn't fear them or worry about them at all unless they are swarming.


Actually swarming bees are less likely to be agressive than those protecting a hive. Swarming is the natural method of honeybee reproduction. The current queen leaves the existing hive along with many workers (and your cash for the season)they will often land in trees or out of the way places and you see this mass of bees they are basically pulled over to the side of the road till scouts return with information of a good location for the new hive. This is where they will go to set up shop. If you are lucky you can grab the whole mass and have an instant hive, a bee keepers version of hitting the lottery.

Obviously stings can occur during the swarm or anytime, but it's not like the defensive attack when the hive is threatened.

Very often local police will keep a bee keepers contact info at hand so swarms can be easily dealt with. Extermination should be a last resort.


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Bees are also migratory. If a swarm appears in a tree or similar place (where they haven't been seen before), they are just "resting" - or are pulled over on the side of the road - and are usually gone the next morning, and certainly within 48 hours. Just don't disturb them and they will go about their business. And, it is agreed, bees should never be exterminated. They are far too valuable to a healthy eco system.


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The idea that all bees in Belize are Africanized is based on almost no evidence.
File that with the theory that all non resistant coconut trees are going to be wiped out worldwide by 1999.
To tell an African hybrid from a from a pure Italian, the beekeepers variety, needs a genetic test.
Mayan stingless bees are easy to tell. They look very dif.

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Albert Einstein once said: "If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live. No more bees, no more pollination � no more men!"

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I thought this was just another silly thread until yesterday.
I got stung about 10 times. I was spraying WD-40 on my motorcycle in the wind and the hive was about 25 yards downwind. They obviously they don't like WD-40.
It was cartoonish, in a way, to be chased by a swarm of bees down the beach, but I can see how it could be dangerous if your allergic or a slow runner.


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It can be deadly. One of my friends lost an uncle last year to bee stings. He was a farmer on the mainland and somehow disturbed a hive.

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I'm a little swollen today it seems to come on slower for my chemistry.
Some professionals have been hired by the hotel to remove them.
I'm sure they will make some beekeeper happy somewhere else in Belize.
I totally agree about their value and how they should not be killed , just not part of someone's vacation.


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OH ...... HERE'S that darned old bee thread (I had a senior moment over on the croc thread)
Recently saw Jackass III (my nephew's idea) - a movie - along with a lot of other remarkably disgusting stuff, some guys play tether-ball with a bee-hive, wearing few if any clothes. Elbert was not one of them.


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