The One Thing to NEVER Do if You’re Surrounded by a Swarm of Bees

Many people have had the same bad dream at some point. You’re walking through the woods or working on the outside of the house, and all of a sudden, you’re swarmed by bees! Granted, this terrifying situation won’t be an everyday occurrence. However, it can happen, and movies like My Girl and the horrifying scene with the swarm of bees don’t help.

However, like with many fears, you can tackle your fright by knowing what to do if a swarm of bees surrounds you. Or, more importantly, what you shouldn’t do. Today, we’ll tell you where you’re most likely to encounter bees and what to do —or not do — in order to stay safe and avoid further disturbance of the swarm.

Where are Swarms of Bees Typically Found?

It is possible to avoid a swarm of bees your entire life if you know where they’re typically found, and that’s a good thing. A bee may sting you occasionally if you’re walking through the woods or accidentally disturb one. In most cases, it won’t be a life-threatening issue. However, you want to avoid a swarm. A swarm can cause significant health issues, including death if you’re allergic and not prepared.

There are a few places where it’s slightly more common to run into a swarm of bees, including around your home. Bees may congregate in walls or ventilation gaps in your home, where they can safely stay out of the elements. If you think you have bees in your HVAC ducts, call an expert for help. Otherwise, you could bother the swarm and get hurt or force them deeper into your home. Bees may also build a hive behind concrete blocks around your home.

You’ve likely also seen a swarm or a hive of bees in trees at some point. They may take up residence there because it’s safe. They’re out of the way of humans and other predators.

With all that said, sometimes a swarm of bees may be found in a random place, like on a tree branch or fence post. That may not be their final home. According to experts at Michigan State University, bees may congregate in a temporary place before going to their final home. During that time, scout bees search for a permanent residence. So, beware that even if you think the swarm has left, it may still be in a hive nearby.

Why Do Bees Swarm?

If you’re walking down the street and notice a bee hive or a congregation of bees, don’t fear. They are unlikely to come after you. If a swarm does cross your path, it’s likely not on purpose. The swarm may be moving to find a new place to build a hive. You’ll likely see a group of bees on the move because their hive has become overcrowded or the queen bee isn’t producing the necessary pheromone. 

However, it is possible that a person could be to blame for riling up the hive. Bees will swarm if they believe that the hive, and more importantly, the queen are under attack. They may swarm if you’re trying to remove a hive from an area of your home. They may also swarm if you unintentionally disrupt the hive. For instance, if bees were building a hive under some stairs, and you happened to step on and fall through the stairs, the bees may be threatened and swarm.

Here is One Thing to Never Do If You’re Surrounded By Bees

For decades, the rumor has always been that if a swarm of bees comes after you, then the first thing you should do is find a lake or pool and submerge yourself in water. 

Don’t listen to that advice. In fact, that’s the last thing you should do if you’re surrounded by bees that are intent on stinging you. The reason is that you won’t get away from the bees; you’ll only delay the inevitable. The bees will hover above the water and wait for you to surface, and then they may sting when you come up for air. In fact, there have been stories of bees hovering over a submerged individual for hours.

Eventually, you will need to go up for air or get out of the water entirely, and the angry bees will still likely try to sting you. There’s also an additional risk. If you’re panicked and afraid, the adrenaline may impact your decision-making abilities, and there’s the chance that you could potentially drown.

What Else NOT to Do

You’re likely to have certain natural reactions when you’re covered with angry bees, but doing them could make the situation worse. In addition to avoiding water, also avoid these bad moves:

Don’t swat at the bees.

The next worst thing you can do if a swarm of bees surrounds you is to fight back by flailing your arms and swatting at them. All you’ll end up doing is agitating and angering the bees even more, and the swarm may grow even larger. 

Don’t scream.

It may seem easier said than done, but try to avoid screaming if bees are after you. A couple of things happen when you scream. One is that you’ll open your mouth and widen your eyes and nose. Bees are more attracted to dark spots and may go for your wide-open orifices. That is also why bee experts say that bees are more attracted to people with black clothing or may sting you on the head or near your hair.

When you scream, you also exhale carbon dioxide, which is a bee agitator. Plus, a bee’s primary sense is smell. When you exhale, the bees can smell your breath, so they’ll know you’re still there. 

That doesn’t mean that screaming as a reaction to seeing a bee guarantees you’ll be stung. However, the combination of flailing, screaming, and swatting can increase the chances.

What is the Best Action to Take When Swarmed by Bees?

So, what can you do if you can’t fight back or jump in the water to escape a swarm of bees? The answer is to follow your instincts and run.

Run as fast as you can and in as straight a line as possible. You run straight because doing so allows you to run faster. Zipping back and forth will just slow you down. Bees are fast and can fly between 12-20 mph. Don’t let that deter you. If you’re serious about getting away from the swarm, you’ll be surprised at how fast you can run. Also, when the bees are in a big swarm, they may fly slower than when they’re by themselves. 

Keep running until you can find shelter. Get into a house, your car, or anywhere else where you can close a door and seal yourself inside. Avoid any type of shelter with openings large enough for the bees to enter because they will likely try to get in, and you will be stuck. If you’re somewhere secure, the bees will realize it’s a lost cause and eventually leave. 

Conclusion

Being chased by any wild animal or insect is scary. However, remember that bee stings will rarely be fatal unless you’re allergic. Be sure to carry an Epi-Pen with you at all times. Ultimately, always try to avoid a confrontation with bees when you can help it. And if you can’t avoid it, employ these tactics and hopefully you can escape unscathed.