Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Young Man Dies After Being Stung by 1,000 Bees While Hiking Arizona Trail: Sheriff’s Office
ktla ^

Posted on 05/27/2016 10:37:02 PM PDT by BenLurkin

A 23-year-old man died Thursday after being swarmed by bees and stung 1,000 times while hiking in Usery Mountain Park in Arizona, authorities said.

Alex Bestler and a friend were on the Merkle Trail when a large swarm of bees descended on them “without provocation or warning” shortly before 9 a.m., according to a Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office news release.

The victim’s friend — identified only as Sonya — managed to escape by seeking shelter in a restroom, but Bestler was overcome by the swarm, the release stated.

He was lying on the ground covered in bees when Sonya returned a short time later with an unidentified good Samaritan, according to the Sheriff’s Office. They were unable to approach Bestler “due to the aggressiveness of the bees,” but flagged down help.

It took three attempts for park employees and first responders to load him onto a park utility vehicle and transport him away from the scene, authorities said, noting bees continued to cover the victim’s body while the swarm pursued them.

(Excerpt) Read more at ktla.com ...


TOPICS: Outdoors; Pets/Animals; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: arizona; bees; hiking; swarm; wildlife
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-76 last
To: BenLurkin

Poor man. What a horrible way to die.


61 posted on 05/28/2016 11:02:11 AM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HartleyMBaldwin

I’ve been sedentary so long now I couldn’t run a mile on a track. Downhill. lol

Thanks for the tip on AfroBees bumping into you. I had never heard that and it could be a life saver. I knew about the pheromones. Even ordinary honey bees get more aggressive when they smell that one of their own got squished or left its stinger in something.

I explored a lot of AZ in the ‘90s, especially the southern counties, looking for medicinal plants, and when I think about the terrain it’s not a place I’d want to run for my life from man nor beasties. I kind of like that about AZ landscapes, very beautiful in its own way, but ‘friendly’ is not a word anyone would use to describe it. ‘Rugged’ is a good place to start and the adjectives just get more intense from there.


62 posted on 05/28/2016 1:34:31 PM PDT by TigersEye (This is the age of the death of reason and rule of law. Prepare!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: patriot08
"Was you ever been bit by a dead bee?" - Walter Brennan
63 posted on 05/28/2016 1:50:49 PM PDT by TigersEye (This is the age of the death of reason and rule of law. Prepare!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: TigersEye

Medicinal plants, eh? The kind that look like little buttons, and alter one’s perception? Just kidding. I should learn more about the plant life around here.

I’ve not personally experienced that bumping-into thing, and wouldn’t rely on it. I just watch and listen, and if I become aware of many bees, I retreat. Fortunately, the weather is cooler during deer and quail seasons, so bees are somewhat less active then. Still see them on warmer days, though.


64 posted on 05/28/2016 3:12:10 PM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: HartleyMBaldwin
AFAIK none of those 'buttons' grow in AZ. :(

If you're interested in medicinal plants in AZ this is the book you should take a look at.

Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West - Michael Moore

I went to his school in '94 when it was in Albuquerque. His other books about western medicinal plants are the best there are. He was one of the best American herbalists there was.

65 posted on 05/28/2016 3:24:09 PM PDT by TigersEye (This is the age of the death of reason and rule of law. Prepare!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: TigersEye

Thanks! I’ve been feeling an Amazon order coming on, and I think I’ll get this book, and probably Kane’s book about edible plants, too. We harvest tunas most years in the fall, and make jelly from them (or syrup, if the jelly doesn’t set). Messy, but fun.


66 posted on 05/28/2016 3:36:41 PM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: HartleyMBaldwin

I did that once when I was living in Silver City, NM.
Gathered them in SE AZ. Cooked them down in honey.
They are huge there! Yuge even.
Most people wouldn’t know what you meant by tuna.

People look at the desert and think ‘barren.’ The truth is
there is a lot more diversity of plant life in the desert
than there is in northern forests. Even the rain forests
of the Pacific NW. That might be true of animals too.
There are a lot of critters out there.


67 posted on 05/28/2016 3:53:32 PM PDT by TigersEye (This is the age of the death of reason and rule of law. Prepare!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: TigersEye

Yeah, it’s amusing to offer someone a jar of “tuna jelly” and see the revolted expression.

I lived in Silver City for a few years, working at Tyrone and Chino, before moving back to Arizona in 2004. The winters are just a bit cold for sitting a drill rig. I heard El Paisano closed; I sure miss really good Mexican food. Jalisco was good, but El P was better. (Now I’m thinking about making a batch of red chile, but not today.)

I grew up in Oregon, and spent a lot of time in the woods. You’re right, I think, about the diversity of the desert flora compared to there, though I knew more about the plants in those parts.


68 posted on 05/28/2016 4:09:16 PM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: who knows what evil?
Killer bees.


69 posted on 05/28/2016 4:15:29 PM PDT by Lazamataz (Chuck Norris finally met his match in Donald Trump.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Eagles6
Probably diving into some water would be the only way that I can think of.

If there were some to dive into, I would think that, too, but the link I posted says the bees will be waiting for you when you come up for air.

70 posted on 05/28/2016 4:16:16 PM PDT by Aliska (Trump/Love 2016 has a nice ring to it, now we shall see)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: PTBAA

I thought it might be a ladies room but decided not to go there. If the guy could have gotten to it, he should have. Maybe it was so bad he couldn’t see, too much pain, fast allergic reaction, they targeted him worse.


71 posted on 05/28/2016 4:19:11 PM PDT by Aliska (Trump/Love 2016 has a nice ring to it, now we shall see)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Ozark Tom; advertising guy
or can of foam if enough coverage, etc. And if a hiker remembers to take something. In all my years, that was one thing I never worried about, was out a lot.

There used to be jokes about them in comic books when I was a kid, but it's no laughing matter. I've seen pictures of men who have allowed themselves to get covered by bees. It's so unnatural it looks creepy. I don't know how he gets them off. Maybe he sleeps with them.

I wonder if they detect chemicals of fear?

72 posted on 05/28/2016 4:45:06 PM PDT by Aliska (Trump/Love 2016 has a nice ring to it, now we shall see)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: TigersEye

Yes, that’s it exactly. I left out ‘dead’ bee. :)


73 posted on 05/28/2016 7:25:17 PM PDT by patriot08 (5th generation Texan (girl type) ANGRY? REFUSE TO VOTE? HELLO HILLARY!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

I hiked in this park back in March...it was beautiful. My sister was there the following week and part of it was closed due to a bee swarm.

It would be really difficult to run fast enough to get away with the terrain. There were hundreds of people there the day I went hiking....guess you just have to hope you don’t end up being the target...yikes!


74 posted on 05/28/2016 10:01:32 PM PDT by garandgal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: patriot08
Gots to be a dead bee! ;-)

I remember my Dad thinking that was very funny and making sure I didn't miss it as we watched To Have And Have Not in the early '60s. He loved Bogart movies especially I think.

75 posted on 05/28/2016 10:39:54 PM PDT by TigersEye (This is the age of the death of reason and rule of law. Prepare!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: TigersEye

Surprises me to see the term ‘bitten’ by a bee (however rarely) today. Looks like everyone would know they sting.

Love old classic movies, especially Bogey and Bacall movies.
Always thought Lauren Bacall (who passed away recently) was highly underrated as to her beauty and acting ability.

I hope they’re together again and happy. :)


76 posted on 05/29/2016 2:27:24 AM PDT by patriot08 (5th generation Texan (girl type) ANGRY? REFUSE TO VOTE? HELLO HILLARY!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-76 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson