Incident Record
Swarm of bees killed dog and injured beekeeper and firefighter in Ceres neighborhood
KCRA reported that a 53-year-old beekeeper harvesting honey in Ceres triggered a swarm that killed a neighboring dog, injured the beekeeper and a firefighter, and led to a shelter-in-place order affecting about 45 homes.
Record ID: CA-STANISLAUS-2017-0402
This record is part of a first-pass incident research dataset. Records, categories, and source notes may be updated as additional information is reviewed and verified.
Date4/2/2017
LocationCeres / 2700 block of River Valley Circle, Stanislaus, CA, United States
CountryUnited States
State / ProvinceCA
Record TypeAnimal-Involved Incident
Trigger / ActivityMowing / Yard Work
SeverityAnimal Fatality / Human Injury
Bee ID StatusBee ID Unknown
Aggression ClassificationAnimal-involved bee incident
Source Language
Incident Summary
KCRA reported that a 53-year-old beekeeper harvesting honey in Ceres triggered a swarm that killed a neighboring dog, injured the beekeeper and a firefighter, and led to a shelter-in-place order affecting about 45 homes.
Public-Safety Lesson
Managed hives can still create public-safety emergencies; even experienced handlers and responders can be injured when swarms spread to neighboring yards.
Impact Flags
Human FatalityNo
Human HospitalizedNo
Animal FatalityYes
Responder InvolvedYes
Source Information
Source: KCRA / Ceres Fire Department
Source Strength: B - Established News / Officials Quoted