Hi Everyone,
I love hiking and being out in Nature to take photos, but it can also be dangerous.
A few days ago a hiker in Phoenix, Arizona was on a mountain trail and was stung over 100 times by bees. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Last year a friend was hiking at an arboretum in Arizona and heard bees buzzing, she looked up and a large beehive was on the cliff above her. She was not attacked.
And last week we were hiking a two mile loop on the Constellation Trail, Prescott, Arizona. About half a mile before the end of the hike we heard a loud buzzing of bees. The sound was coming from the other side of some bushes that were next to the trail. I carefully walked around the bushes, and in a large rock was a hole about two times the size of a basketball where bees had a hive. They were flying in and out of the hole, and buzzing around it. I slowly walked back to the trail, and we quickly left the area and kept going down the trail without being stung.
To help prevent bees from attacking you, here are some suggestions:
- Don’t disturb the hive.
- Don’t wear strong scented products when outdoors (perfume, cologne, lotion).
- Wear light-colored, smooth-textured, clothes.
- Do not swat at bees, it makes them feel threatened.
- If bees attack, run away and protect your head and face. Keep running until the bees stop chasing you.
- If possible, get into an enclosed space.
- Don’t jump into water. They will fly over the water waiting for you to come up for air.
- Remove stingers by scraping them with a straight edge (a credit card or fingernail). If you squeeze them, you will release more venom into your body.
When you’re out in nature hiking, or taking pictures, stay alert to your surroundings. Tiny critters can be as dangerous as big ones.
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Check out my photography and writing ebooks at www.jeffcolburn.com/jeffs-ebooks
Have Fun,
Jeff