The park administration of Joshua Tree National Park in California had to close parts of the site to visitors for safety reasons after a large flock of bees entered the area due to a lack of water.
The temporary closure was announced by the park on Instagram earlier this week and applies to the Cottonwood Visitor Center, parking lot, restrooms and campground.
An increase in the number of buzzing bees is not necessarily unexpected during the warmer months of the year. “During the summer, water becomes scarce and bees seek out water sources, just like our other park animals,” park officials said in the post.
But that water doesn’t just come from the first sources that come to mind, like lakes and rivers; the combination of humans and a national park can bring other unique sources of moisture for the bees, including “condensation from air conditioning units, sweat from visitors and bathrooms,” which causes the bees to swarm in those places.
Commentators who have recently visited the park seem to confirm this, describing cars being surrounded and “violent” attacks on sweaty people.
As a result, the Cottonwood area has been closed to visitors “for safety reasons and to reduce the humidity that attracts bees during the summer,” officials explained. “The closure will reduce water availability for bees and give them time to leave the area.”
How long the closure will remain in place is unclear. The park told a commenter on the post that it “depends on bee activity, but could be about a week.” According to the National Park Service website, the closure warning is still active as of Saturday.
Since bees are not only found in Joshua Tree in the summer, it is good to know how to protect yourself when you are around them. Although they are one of the most helpful insects there is, their stings can be dangerous for allergy sufferers.
The Carl Hayden Bee Research Center in Arizona has some top tips for bee safety:
- Stay away from bee colonies – Listen for the buzzing, as the birds are not always visible and some prefer to nest under rocks.
- Wear appropriate clothing – Hiking is one of the best ways to enjoy national parks, but make sure your gear is brightly colored to keep bees away.
- Avoid wearing fragrances – Bees can be sensitive to certain scents, including citrus scents, which are known to irritate honey bees.
If you fall into the trap of an aggressive bee or a swarm of bees, it is advisable to quickly run to a closed shelter and protect your head and face with your shirt or arms.
