Bee Swarm Shuts Ark. Hospital's ER

AP ^ | 5-1-07 | Jim Brooks

[rhinohunter]

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - A swarm of bees clustered outside the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center shut down the emergency room Monday, as officials waited for a beekeeper to come vacuum up the 7,000 insects.

Although no one was stung, the Little Rock emergency room still decided to be closed for ambulance traffic.

"We'll take walk-ins, but ambulances are being diverted to other hospitals," UAMS spokeswoman Andrea Peel said.

Doctors did not see any patients with bee stings, but emergency room physician Dr. Delaney Kinchen said it was an important precaution to close the ER while clearing out the bees.

"I've been stung thousands of times and never had any problems, but I know people who've been stung twice and almost died," he said.

Beekeeper Harvey Johnston arrived Monday afternoon to remove the beehive.

"Somewhere around here was a beehive that got overcrowded," he said. "When bees get crowded, (the queen) leaves and takes a portion of the bees with her."

The emergency room reopened shortly after 2 p.m., Peel said.

[Lead Moderator]

To prevent duplication, please do not alter the headline. Thanks.

[dmz]

I guess we know where all those missing bees got to, now don’t we?

[Kimmers]

Now that is a rather inventive way for ER crowd control.

[TommyDale]

They were only seeking treatment for their virus!

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I guess we found the missing bees....

[keat]

Immigrant bees seeking free medical care?

[randita]

Were there any Aunts among the bees?

[Clintonfatigued]

It’s Bush’s fault.

[vox_freedom]

A bee vacuum was used to suck up the bees:

[NavyCanDo]

This happened where I work last summer. The beekeeper that was called in whore a short sleeve shirt and no gloves and he just vacuumed them up with a shop vac. Amazing sight to see.

[oakcon]

whore?

wore perhaps?

[Argus]

I trust that none of the bees were injured in the process.

[decimon]

wore perhaps?

No, a short-sleeved shirt. ;-)

[Grizzled Bear]

whore?

---

No, thank you.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

I thought my cell phone killed all those little buggers!

[Eastbound]

'Where ya been, you wandering scoundrel?'
'Oh Queen, I confess we were deceived by another who lured us to the northern regions for a season or two.'
'Okay, you're forgiven, you lazy slob! What was her name?'
'Name? I cannot answer that, Oh Queen. We were merely following our instincts when we encountered a familiar essence wafting on the outer limits of our communications band. As it turned out, the counterfeit emanations were being broadcast far a wide by a device carried by humans to deceive the hive.'
'Well, why did it take you so long to get back?'
'Because we froze solid when we followed the signal along the Iditerod trail and had to wait 'til spring to thaw out.'
'But how do you account for that lipstick on your stinger?
'That's not lipstick, Oh Queen! That's blood. I was bitten by a penguin.'
'A likely excuse. But better than none. Now get back to work! We're waaaaaaaaaaay behind filling orders.'

[TxCopper]

Thats not a bee vacuum!

[WorkingClassFilth]

They’re pretty docile when the swarm clusters - they’re just looking for a new home.

[vox_freedom]

Looks like child abuse to me! :-)