Had a call around 20:15 this evening.
Some kind individual had dumped a box of bees on a rec ground at the end of someone else's garden. These were found by a dog walker or, more correctly, their dog.
The home owner reported being stung at least four times and pursued perhaps the length of a rugby pitch.
Reportedly another beekeeper had previously come to collect them although his wife came too. Despite supposedly not being allergic to bee stings, she was stung and seemingly had become allergic to them so they had a rapid trip to the hospital- I'm told with signs of anaphylaxis. Keep her in your prayers and perhaps pray for wisdom as well that she will start carrying the epipen she had seemingly left at home.
Got there and what looks like some sort of large bird nestbox had a swarm of bees in it. It had been placed in a bag for life and dumped in a bush. The first beekeeper had helpfully got it away from the the vegetation before he and his wife were forced to depart. Sprayed bees with water to reduce flying, covered it in a section of breathable frost fleece and duct taped this tightly around the bag for life. I don't get many truly five minute jobs!
Gave house owner a jar of honey, bees in an out apiary with a nuc box next to them, fleece removed but nothing else done as it was virtually dark by then, will move across tomorrow afternoon. Time will tell about temperament but I'm not tolerating jerks so could be a rapid requeen unless they're truly miserable as suggested by the home owner. In reality they were likely unhappy after being dumped today and then further aggravated by being moved out of the bushes.
Cannot believe someone would just dump a box of bees like that. Also confused as to just how they did it.
Anyone reading this who has an epipen, I don't care how unlikely you think a reaction is, please just make a habit of always carrying the damn thing. It's just not worth it. I really hope that beekeeper's wife is alright.
