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 area, restrooms and campground were closed Tuesday, the park announced on Instagram, due to increased bee activity. The closures remained in effect Thursday afternoon.
“In summer, water is scarce and bees seek out water sources just like the rest of the park’s fauna,” the post said. “However, this can include condensation from air conditioners, sweat from visitors and toilets.”
The closure will reduce the amount of water available in the area and give bees a chance to leave, the National Park Service said. In a looping video of the Instagram post, a group of bees huddle around water dripping from the undercarriage of a car. Another video shows dozens of bees flying beneath a white truck.
One Instagram commenter wrote that she had never been stung by a bee until last week in Joshua Tree. She said she was attacked by a group of bees that drank her sweat: “I understand why they would have to close down entire areas… They are relentless!”
Another person said their RV was attacked after bees were attracted to an open container of water. A ranger helped drive the bees away by pouring water on a trail on the ground, she said, and advised them to keep driving until the rest of the bees flew away.
This month, a Jurupa Valley man survived a bee attack, in which he received more than 200 stings and his two horses died. Local beekeeping experts suggested staying away from beehives and contacting professionals to remove wild bees before they become a problem.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says allergic reactions to bee stings can range from mild, with just a little swelling, to life-threatening anaphylactic shock, which causes swelling in the mouth or throat, difficulty breathing, breathing problems and a drop in blood pressure, even from a single sting. The department estimates that the average person without a severe allergy can withstand 10 stings for every pound of body weight.
