Busy bees — seeking water, including from sweaty park visitors — have closed parts of Joshua Tree National Park, park officials said.
Cottonwood’s visitor center, parking lot, restrooms and campground were closed Tuesday, the park announced on Instagramdue to increased bee activity. The closures was still in effect Thursday afternoon.
“In the summer, water becomes scarce and bees seek water sources just like our other wildlife in the park,” the post read. “However, this can include condensation from air conditioners, visitors’ sweat and bathrooms.”
The closure will reduce the amount of water available in the area and give the bees an opportunity to leave, the National Park Service said. In a looped video from the Instagram post, a group of bees crawl around water dripping from the undercarriage of a car. Another video shows dozens of bees flying under a white truck.
One Instagram commenter wrote that she had never been stung by a bee until last week at Joshua Tree. She said she was attacked by a group of bees that drank her sweat: “I understand why you would have to close off whole areas. … Just relentless!”
Another person said their mobile home was attacked after bees were drawn to an open watering can. A park ranger helped draw the bees away by pouring water into a trail on the ground, they said, and advised them to drive until the rest of the bees flew away.
A man in Jurupa Valley this month survived a bee attack where he was stung more than 200 times and his two horses were killed. Local beekeeping experts suggested staying away from hives and contacting professionals to remove wild bees before they become a problem.
The US Department of Agriculture says allergic reactions to bee sting can range from minor, with just a little swelling, to life-threatening anaphylactic shock, which causes swelling of the mouth or throat, shortness of breath, impaired breathing and a drop in blood pressure – even from a sting. The department estimates that the average person without a severe allergy can withstand 10 stings per kilogram of body weight.