Story Created:
May 29, 2008 at 9:31 PM CST
Story Updated:
May 30, 2008 at 5:33 PM CST
Wichita, Kansas , May 29, 2008 --They're getting closer.
This week experts confirmed that so-called killer or Africanized bees are within 60 miles of
Kansas and they may be here this summer.
When bees swarm its Bill Vinduska's job to catch them.
Vinduska is on a short list of
Kansas "swarm catchers" which means he not only catches the bees but checks to see if they're Africanized.
“When they are found I do know how to deal with them," Vinduska says.
In the past 5 years Africanized bees have migrated up from .
"The long range forecast is we'll probably see the Africanized bees go as far north as the Nebraska border and then on really cold winters they may be froze back to the Oklahoma border," said Vinduska.
Areas along the I-135 corridor are at highest risk.
"We've had a couple instances where bees hitchhiked rides on campers and semi trailers that have come up as far as Severy and perhaps Winfield," said Vinduska
That's what Brick Scheer was worried about when he ran across this swarm while mowing his back yard.
"I didn't know if they were African bees or American bees,” he said. “I wouldn't know one from another but I was outnumbered about 5-thosuand to one and I didn't want to take a chance."
Africanized bees will attack. Get caught and the effects are dangerous.
"Because they are coming at you in such aggressive numbers, if you get stung 800 times to a thousand times you're gonna get really really sick," warns Vinduska.
That's why the Kansas Department of Agriculture recommends calling a beekeeper anytime you see a swarm.
Don't deal with it out on your own.
"Run the only thing on your mind is run. Run as long and far as you can," says Vinduska.
