Officials propose united effort on bees

Friday, May 19, 2000 | 10:48 a.m.

Concerned about the growing threat of Africanized honey bees, Gov. Kenny Guinn and state officials agreed Thursday to form a statewide task force that will approach potential attacks by Africanized bees as a public nuisance.

The task force is expected to meet sometime in June to develop education and readiness plans for dealing with the so-called "killer bees" that swarmed into the Las Vegas Valley in 1998.

Agriculture Department Director Paul Iverson said state officials expect the bee invasion to grow as the insects swarm throughout the valley and mate with the calmer European honeybees.

After a 77-year-old Las Vegas woman was stung 500 times in an attack by the Africanized bees as she walked down 14th Street in downtown Las Vegas in March, Iverson said state agencies decided to counterattack the bee problem with a unified approach.

The state estimates it will cost $800,000 a year to set traps, check them, destroy hives and mount emergency responses to bee attacks.

Steps the task force may consider include setting traps to divert swams from swooping into resort areas along the Strip and downtown.

After the brainstorming session, Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman Tim Szymanski said people should dial 911 only if a person is under attack.

The Las Vegas Fire Department offers information on Africanized bees on its website (www.ci.lasvegas.nv.us/fire-rescue) or call the department's information hotline at 229-2000.

Clark County also has an Africanized bee website (www.co.clark.nv.us/pubworks/ahb.htm).