Father and son hospitalized after bee attack kills 2 horses in Jurupa Valley – Press Enterprise

A Jurupa Valley man recently found himself in a life-threatening situation when he and his son were attacked by an angry swarm of bees while tending to their horses. Antonio Moreno, the man at the center of this harrowing ordeal, considers himself lucky to have survived the ordeal, which left him with over 200 stings, injured his son, and tragically claimed the lives of two of their horses.

The incident occurred on the evening of Friday, August 9, around 7:30 p.m. Moreno and his son were in the process of feeding their four horses when they noticed bees stinging one of the animals. As Moreno attempted to untie the horse, the bees turned their aggression towards him and his son. The frantic duo attempted to flee, but the relentless bees pursued them until they sought refuge inside the house with the help of the property owner.

Following the attack, both Moreno and his son were promptly taken to the hospital after receiving initial treatment from Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department paramedics. Moreno recounted the severity of his symptoms, stating, „Everything began to close up, my throat closed up, and my heart felt like it was going to explode. My chest hurt so much, everything hurt.“

In an effort to subdue the aggressive bees, firefighters resorted to spraying foam, a substance typically used to extinguish burning jet fuel. Karina Espinoza, a Cal Fire spokeswoman, confirmed the use of this method to calm the swarm.

Surprisingly, Moreno revealed that the bees had not posed a threat to him in the two years that they had been residing beneath the shed where he stored the horses‘ food. Clinton Storer, the owner of Inland Empire-based Bee Wranglers Inc., shed light on the behavior of bees, explaining that while a hive may initially exhibit calm behavior, the introduction of a new queen from an aggressive hive can trigger a shift in temperament.

Storer elaborated, „Aggressive means that if you just tap on the wall, they will come pouring out and they will want to sting you. It’s bred into them to attack or protect their colony.“ The presence of the horses likely triggered the bees‘ defensive instincts, as they perceived the large, moving creatures as a potential threat.

According to Storer, bees are attracted to carbon dioxide, which is exhaled by humans and animals, making them susceptible to attacks. He emphasized the importance of seeking shelter indoors when faced with a bee swarm, as demonstrated by Moreno and his son during the attack.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides guidelines on bee sting safety, stating that the average person can tolerate up to 10 stings per pound of body weight. However, individuals with severe allergies to bee venom may be at risk of a fatal reaction even from a single sting. Proper removal of stingers is crucial, with recommendations to use the edge of a credit card or a fingernail to avoid forcing more venom into the body.

Tragically, bee stings can have fatal consequences, as evidenced by the CDC’s report of 788 deaths in the United States from hornet, wasp, and bee stings between 2011 and 2021. This alarming statistic underscores the importance of bee safety and awareness when encountering these insects in the wild.

In conclusion, the story of Antonio Moreno’s survival against a swarm of bees serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers posed by these tiny yet formidable creatures. His resilience and quick thinking in seeking shelter undoubtedly played a crucial role in his survival, highlighting the importance of bee safety protocols in mitigating the risks associated with bee encounters.