Bee Attacks Raise Concerns
by Brian Buckley
Friday, May 21, 2004
With two gruesome bee stings in West Bay in the span of a few weeks, one
allegedly causing the death of a man and the other taking the life of a dog and
seriously injuring its owner, health officials and beekeepers are stressing
caution and safety in all interactions with bees.
Dr Fiona Robertson, Head of the Department of Emergency at The Cayman Islands
Hospital, emphasized these points. “The wisest thing to do is to not go into
areas where one knows bees may be keeping their hives. Likewise, if someone
stumbles onto a swarm or hive, it is best if they remove themselves from the
area immediately,” she said.
In her fifteen years at the hospital, Dr Robertson has witnessed four
individuals enter the hospital with wounds from bee stings. She saw these recent
altercations with bees as “not unusual.”
Cayman Net News contacted local beekeeper Otto Watler, a self-described
“fairly-experienced self-taught beekeeper. “This is the time of year when the
bees in Grand Cayman are strongest,” he said. “The trees which produce pollen
and nectar are producing heavily this time of year, especially the red birch
trees.”
Pointing out that the two attacks occurred within a 300-400 yard area in West
Bay, Mr Watler noted that West Bay and George Town districts are the best hosts
for bees due to their number of trees and plants. In addition, he said that he
believed bees were first introduced to the island by a citizen of West Bay years
ago, who brought the bees to Grand Cayman from Jamaica. “Bees are not indigenous
to Grand Cayman. Cayman Brac still has no bees today,” he said.
The bees on the island are not African killer bees, but rather Italian banded
bees, Mr Watler said. As a result, these bees do not naturally attack. “It is a
matter of being careful. Any bee, when it feels it is being attacked will attack
back. If you get into a problem, run into a house or turn on a hose and douse
yourself. If you know you will be near bees during the day, take a shower
without scented soaps or cosmetic bath products.”
While Mr Watler reiterated his warnings in order to prevent humans from
getting caught in a frenzy of bees, he would not refrain from expressing his
admiration of bees. “Bees are the most intelligent insects God has made. Certain
fruits and vegetables would not be possible without cross-pollination that bees
effect.”
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