Lawmakers call for action on bees

Friday, April 14, 2000 | 11:03 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- State legislators, who were told Thursday that the threat from Africanized honeybees will continue to grow, called for more steps to be taken to protect the public.

State Agriculture Director Paul Iverson told the Legislative Interim Finance Committee that the bee problem "will continue to increase in scope."

"It will not go away," Iverson said. "No matter how many we kill, they will extend their habitats."

Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, called it a "public safety issue" and suggested the state issue a telephone number for emergencies.

The issue was raised at the meeting by Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, who represents the district in which a 77-year-old woman suffered 500 stings from Africanized bees.

The woman was attacked while walking near a hive of honeybees at Maryland Parkway and U.S. 95 last month. Firemen used hoses to disperse the swarm.

Fire officials said between 30,000 and 40,000 bees built a hive about six to eight months ago in a hollow tree two houses away from where the woman was walking.

A 79-year-old man and a 12-year old girl have also been attacked in Southern Nevada by Africanized bees. Both survived.

Iverson warned, "It's going to happen again."

The bees, popularly called "killer bees," have reached as far north as Mesquite, but the state is working with the county "to get control" of the problem, the agriculture director said.

The first reported swarm in Southern Nevada came in 1998 in Laughlin, followed by another swarm at the County Government Center near downtown Las Vegas.