DNA Tests To Determine If Bees In Concord Attack Were Africanized
CONCORD (KPIX 5) -- Bee experts are trying to determine why a swarm of bees that killed two dogs in the East Bay were so aggressive.
There are tens of thousands of Bay Area backyards with bee hives. George Chavez has one, and he's very concerned with the news out of Concord.
"I didn't know what to think. I was kind of surprised," Chavez said.
There has never been a report of Africanized bees so far north in the United States. And in fact, maybe there still isn't.
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"I'll bet you a cup of coffee and donut it was not Africanized," Mike Vigo of the Bee Ranchers told KPIX 5.
Vigo said he doesn't know, of course. DNA tests will be made. But he says it could be something else too.
"Bees can be pissy if there are ants. Bees can get pissy if they are queen-less. Bees can get pissy if whoever is handling their frames is doing a rough job with it and starts killing a bunch of bees," Vigo said.
Aggressive bees went on the attack in Friday last Concord, likely killing two dogs and stinging several humans. It's unnerving to people all over who keep bees, and to neighbors of people who keep bees.
"A good bee keeper will recognize the conditions changing and will be on top of it, so it doesn't happen overnight," Vigo said.
Considering the benefits of pollinating backyard plants, making honey, helping to keep the planet healthy - bees pollinate 84 per cent of the crops grown for human consumption - there's a good argument for keeping backyard beehives.