Africanized Honey Bee Outreach Program -- July 2007

Media, You and Africanized Bees

Africanized honey bees have arrived! Now What?

Putting AHB Into Perspective
AHB are more aggressive than EHB.
AHB swarm more and produce more feral colonies.
AHB nest in more and smaller spaces than EHB.
In terms of aggressive defense of the colony and potential number of stings, AHB are comparable to our native yellow jackets or bald-faced hornets.

At-Risk Groups
People likely to interact with bees
Outdoor workers
Agriculture
Landscapers
Surveyors
Utility workers
Land clearing equipment operators
Military during training
Sports enthusiasts
Rescue personnel

At-Risk Groups
These people are at greater risk from encounters with feral AHB colonies because they are less able to escape the situation.
Small Children
Elderly
Handicapped

At-Risk Groups
Animals at risk
Tethered or restrained
Penned, caged or corralled
Horses and bees don’t mix

What’s being done? Who’s doing it? What are the key messages?

Have the attitude: Stinging incidents are pretty rare, it probably won’t happen around here
Practice the diffusion of responsibility theory: Somebody else will take care of it
And then,
Do nothing approach . . .

Possible/Probable Scenarios
Child is attacked by AHBs during recess at school w/o education: teacher runs over and starts swatting at bees, soon both the teacher and the child are being attacked When rescue unit finally gets there, teacher, victim and several other children have sustained hundreds of stings and child is having difficulty breathing . M edia accuses school of being ill prepared to deal with life-threatening emergency. County sued by victim’s family.
w/education: teacher, victim and other children cover their noses and mouths and run into building Victim sustains a few stings only. PCO is called to immediately remove nest. Story covered in school’s monthly newsletter. No other media coverage.

Puppies chained to dog house in abandoned lot; owner attempts to move dog house and is attacked by thousands of bees that have established hive on bottom of dog house. w/o education: owner stung multiple times taken to hospital, four puppies die. Owner incurs high medical costs; county investigating animal cruelty charges w/education: puppies are not chained and are able to run away from bees; owner covers nose and mouth and runs to get inside his vehicle. He suffers a few stings and calls 911. No medical expenses, puppies live.

911 operator receives call that man and dogs are being attacked by killer bees. w/o education: 911 operator sends a police officer to try to help the puppies and the victim. Media accuses 911 center of being ill-prepared to deal with life-threatening emergency
w/education: 911 operator calls ‘bee-sting recovery’ emergency response team and tells victim to stay in his truck with the windows rolled up. Media applaud county’s quick response.

Bee Aware . . . Public Awareness Program
Challenge:
Educate the public about potential dangers of AHB, while at the same time stressing the importance of managed honey bee colonies to Florida agriculture

Managed colonies dilute AHB populations.
Prevent AHB takeover of European honeybee hives.
AHB are less likely attracted to areas where other foragers exist.
Importance of Managed Colonies in Mitigating AHB

Beekeepers are Valuable European honey bees are the first and best deterrent against an area becoming Africanized.

Pollination is an important part of Florida Agriculture

Impact to Florida’s Agricultural Industry Reduced Yield

Florida Agriculture Benefits of managed colonies – a critical part of the message We need managed honey bee colonies in Florida … they provide 1/3 rd of the food we eat … they discourage AHBs from nesting in areas already occupied by managed colonies.

Interface/Educate/ Train
Established Inter-Agency Working Group
Make presentations/ attend statewide conferences
Develop/distribute brochures, fact sheets, videos, PSAs, school curriculums
AHB Outreach Activities

AHB Planning Collaboration and Training in Florida
Formed Africanized Bee Working Group
Devoting research funds to AHB
Providing funds to the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences for a “Train the Trainer” curriculum
Partnership with Florida State Beekeepers Association

AHB Planning Collaboration and Training in Florida
Collaborating with UF/IFAS to provide training statewide training for local gov’ts, businesses, civic organizations, and others.
Organizing/participating in media opportunities.
Working closely with Apiary Inspectors of America, Southern Plant Board, and Florida Farm Bureau.
Presenting to state beekeepers’ associations in Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky and Delaware.

AHB Inter-Agency Working Group
State agencies (public health, emergency management, tourism, environmental services, Ag law, Forestry), industry representatives, University of Florida IFAS, ag officials from Georgia and Alabama
Mission: to share information and speak with one voice

AHB Inter-Agency Working Group
Create/maintain Intranet Web site to share information
Develop easy-to-remember slogan for responding to potential AHB attacks
Conduct statewide presentations to stakeholder groups
Bee aware ... look, listen, run

PR Efforts: What works/what doesn’t
Clear message works:
AHB’s are here and they are potentially dangerous . . . Now What???

Present concise information on what to do if attacked by stinging insects such as AHBs:
Be aware of your surroundings (look for bees, listen for buzzing)
If attacked, run, seek shelter inside
Scrape off stingers
Contact PCO to remove hive
Seek medical attention if necessary

People are interested in AHBs – getting their attention should be easy
Use existing communication tools to educate your audiences (newsletters, utility bill inserts, Web site links, etc.)
Encourage the public to be knowledgeable and prepared, not to panic
We can learn to live with AHBs as we have yellow jackets, fire ants, etc.

Greatest challenges:
Getting the word out – interfacing w/other entities
Explaining the importance of managed colonies (food does not originate at Publix)

Outreach Program for Public Information Officers
Contacted over 200 Florida-agency PIOs
PIOs responsible for agency reputation
Provided fact sheet template on CD for agency-specific modification
Conduct follow up calls to individual PIOs

10-ft AHB exhibit at conference attended by over 300 county officials
Opportunity for one-on-one discussions with decision makers about AHB and managed colony issues
June 2006 & 2007 Florida Association of Counties

10-ft AHB exhibit at conference to be attended by over 400 city officials
Opportunity for one-on-one discussions with decision makers about AHB and managed colony issues
Florida League of Cities August 2006 & 2007

Why Educate the Public About AHB?
Public Safety
Protect the public from harm …educate about avoiding stinging insects
Organization/Agency Reputation . . . Be Prepared
Whether or not you have the primary responsibility, you will be accused of not preparing your community/constituents about possible attacks
Protect Florida Agriculture … Managed Bee Colonies provide 1/3 of Florida’s food supply
A biological void that can be more easily filled by the African honey bee

A Balanced Message . . .

What should you do to avoid being stung? What should you do if you are being attacked by stinging insects?

Bee Alert
Check the environment around your homes regularly for possible bee nesting sites – plug holes
Look for bees in work areas before using power equipment – noise excites bees

Bee Proofing
Africanized honey bees nest in a wide variety of locations
Need openings >1/8 inch, cavity behind the opening for a nest
Eliminate shelter
Caulk cracks in walls, foundation, and roof
Fill or screen holes >1/8-inch in trees, structures, or block walls
Screen attic vents, irrigation boxes, and water meter box holes
Remove trash or debris that might shelter honey bees
Fill or cover animal burrows
Secure window screens to fit tightly
Close shed doors tightly and keep in good repair
Hole leading to cavity

Colony Removal
Disturbing a defensive colony by untrained personnel could endanger people and pets up to 150 yards away from colony.
Only experienced persons with protective equipment should attempt to remove or eliminate bee colonies.
Improper removal can cause bees to attack bystanders.
Numerous insecticides are approved for use on bees.
Use foam. Soapy water doesn't work effectively on a colony because honey comb prevents adequate coverage.

If attacked, cover your mouth and nose and run inside a building, vehicle or other enclosure
Don’t swat at bees – only makes them more defensive
Don’t jump in a pool – they’ll wait for you
If stung, scrape off the stinger with a fingernail or credit card
Call a pest control company to remove the hive
Seek medical attention if necessary
Bee aware ... look, listen, run

FDACS/DPI Helpline 888-397-1517 www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry

Thank you. Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry Without honey bees, approximately one third of the food we eat every day would disappear due to the lack of pollination.

Africanized Honey Bee Outreach Program -- July 2007

by Fresh from Florida Plant Industry on Feb 17, 2011

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Africanized Honey Bee Outreach Program -- July 2007 — Presentation Transcript