Aggressive bees create summer safety concerns
If you’ve spent any time on Facebook lately, chances are you’ve seen one of Jacob Cleveland’s bee removal videos.
Over the past several weeks, the Albany pest control owner has posted photos and videos showing massive honeycombs hidden under pool decks, inside chimneys and beneath roofs. The posts have attracted plenty of attention, with residents often sharing them and tagging friends who might have a bee problem of their own.
The online exposure has also helped spread the word about Cleveland’s work.
“I don’t know if there are more bees or if my name is just getting out there more,” he said.
Whatever the reason, the calls keep coming.
Cleveland said he has removed about 15 swarms so far this season and is increasingly traveling throughout the Big Country to help homeowners deal with bee infestations. While the jobs vary, one thing has stood out to him this year.
“The ones I’ve treated in the past are a lot more docile than what these are this year,” he said.
Bee season typically begins in late April and runs through mid-July, when swarming activity is at its peak.
One of the biggest misconceptions, Cleveland said, is that removing a hive means the problem is gone forever. Bees often return to the same location because pheromones left behind by previous colonies attract new swarms.
“If you see them going into your house in the roof or somewhere, get them treated immediately,” he said. “Don’t think they’re calm and not hurting anything.”
Many homeowners don’t even realize they have bees living inside walls, roofs or chimneys until the colony is disturbed. By then, the hive may have been growing for months or even years.
Cleveland recently encountered an unusually aggressive colony north of Albany that he believes may have been Africanized bees. While he could not confirm the species, he said the bees continued pursuing what they viewed as a threat much longer than a typical hive would.
Residents needing assistance with bee removal can contact Liberty Pest Control at 325-668-8067.
