VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A Volusia County deputy relocated thousands of Italian honey bees after they were stirred up when a tree crashed into a DeLand home, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Volusia Sheriff’s Deputy David Wiggins, who is also a beekeeper, was called into action because hundreds of Italian honey bees that occupied the tree suddenly were stirred up and stung anyone who came near to help.
Photos: Volusia County deputy relocates thousands of bees after tree crashes into DeLand home
The Sheriff’s Office said Wiggins was stung about 10 times but “barely flinched.”
Deputies said the tree fell on the home in the 900 block of Clark Avenue, leaving the home unlivable. A resident was in the house when the tree fell but he was not injured.
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Wiggins, whose family has been involved in beekeeping since World War II, went home to don his full body suit, deputies said. When he returned to the scene, he worked to lure the bees to his hive in a white box.
Due to the tree being disturbed and shattered, the bees got confused, Wiggins said. Half of the bees went into the white box while the other half swarmed to another tree above where the tree fell.
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Deputies said the hive was relocated to a more serene location. The bees are still “a little aggressive,” but Wiggins believes they will calm down as he works with them.
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