TUCSON, Ariz. — An “aggressive” swarm of bees were responsible for the Wednesday deaths of three Arizona dogs, officials with the Tucson Fire Department confirmed Thursday.
After warning residents to avoid the area, a fire crew “foamed” the bees with insecticide and removed the dogs from the threat, USA Today reported.
“We never enjoy killing precious bees, but in these rare cases it is necessary,” the fire department said via Twitter.
UPDATE: One dog has died, crews are foaming the aggressive bees before tending to the other dogs. We never enjoy killing precious bees, but in these rare cases it is necessary. Continue to avoid the area 🐝🚒
— Tucson Fire Department (@TucsonFireDept) May 13, 2020
One dog died on the scene and the other two were pronounced dead at a nearby veterinarian clinic, NBC News reported.
According to USA Today, Africanized honey bees, or “killer bees,” are prevalent across the southwestern United States between March and October and are known to attack after the slightest provocation to protect their hive, but the species in Wednesday’s attack has not bee definitively identified.
Cox Media Group
