photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, 12,000-15,000 swarming honeybees forced the temporary closure of Ridgewood, New Jersey’s main business thoroughfare on Monday afternoon, 05/08. A Starbucks patron telephoned Ridgewood Police to report the potentially dangerous situation. Police officers who arrived on the scene then contacted local beekeeper Frank Mortimer, who responded to the location and recommended the swarm be removed from its perch 30 feet up a tree. A tower ladder truck from Ridgewood Fire Department was dispatched to safely hoist beekeeper Mortimer up to the swarm. Although he was able to remove all of the bees within about 30 minutes, an unprotected firefighter who accompanied him had to retreat from the tower ladder after being stung over a dozen times. Mortimer’s wife Sophie and his daughter Svea also responded to the location. They both assisted him once the bees were safely contained. Reportedly, Mortimer planned on relocating the 12,000-15,000 bees to a secure location in Glen Rock. Ridgewood Police patrol officers provided traffic control during the incident.
Honey bee swarms occur when a colony of bees becomes too large for its current hive and needs to find a new home. The swarm consists of a queen bee and a large number of worker bees, which leave the original hive and cluster together on a nearby object, such as a tree branch or fencepost.
The swarm typically stays in this temporary location for a few hours to a few days while scout bees search for a suitable new home. Once a suitable site is found, the swarm will move to its new location.
It’s important to note that honey bee swarms are generally not aggressive, as the bees are focused on finding a new home and have little interest in stinging humans. However, it’s still important to keep a safe distance from the swarm and contact a local beekeeper or pest control professional if you’re concerned about the swarm’s location.
Franks the man!
Good job!