Bee Attacks Roil Hikers And Walkers In Arizona

Bees have been making headlines in Arizona after a swarm attacked and killed a rock climber and his dog, and another attacked five hikers, three of whom needed hospital attention. In Tucson, a woman walking on a city street recently suffered more than 200 stings.

Mazda Shirazi, Medical director of Arizona Poison and Drug information Center in Tucson told Here & Now that most of the swarming attacks are by bees that are a hybrid of the African honey bee and two types of European honey bees.

The hybrids are believed to have reached the U.S. in the 1980s or 90s and they are increasing in numbers in Arizona. Shirazi says that rise, coupled with the warm weather that brings more people outside, may be responsible for the spate of recent bee attacks.