TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Just this weekend, Tucson Fire dispatched crews to seven swarm scenes throughout the city where a few people stung.
"Our call volume for bee-related calls skyrockets during the month of April," said Tucson Fire Captain, Barrett Baker.
For several years now, Africanized Killer Bees have been getting more aggressive in Arizona. This weekend, fire departments responded to calls of aggressive swarms and hives throughout the state.
In Phoenix on Friday, at least 15 people were attacked outside of a mosque. Fire crews responded by foaming the building and forcing an evacuation. Last summer in Tucson, two dogs were stung and killed after a woman found a hive in her backyard on the east side.
Earlier that year, a young girl was taken to the hospital after her bee allergy caused her eye to swell shut. In 2014, a 9-month-old puppy was killed after being stung to death. In 2013, a hiker and his dog were found dead in the Santa Catalina Mountains after being stung by a swarm.
But, what many private property owners don't know is that if the bees aren't being aggressive, you may have to handle it on your own.
"If they're setting up an actual hive in your house somewhere, in the attic space or the shed somewhere, now again we either have to call a bee removal specialist or if they are attacking that's when we would go out and try to take care of the bees," said Baker.
So, what should you do if you're being attacked?
"Cover up your face as much as possible because if it is a true attack they're going to be stinging you, eyes nose mouth ears so try to pull something over your face to give yourself that protection."
