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On Your Side: Bees, Bees and More Bees

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Posted: 5:52 PM Apr 29, 2008
Last Updated: 6:53 PM Apr 29, 2008
Reporter: Jeff Anderson
Email Address: jeff.anderson@wrdw.com

17 comments

A | A | A

News 12 at 6, April 29, 2008

MARTINEZ-- We first told you about a massive bee problem at one Columbia County home last week. Now meet the army wife who is weathering the insect storm.

Theresa Manning has a lot on her shoulders, 3 kids, a house, a dog and a fulltime job. Not to mention, a husband in a war zone. Now, she's literally adding in millions of other problems in the form of honeybees living in her walls.

And it's that latest addition to her family that is proving the most difficult.

"The bees were coming from there." she said pointing to where the bees were flying right into her home.

She recently discovered that inside her walls are millions and millions of bees that have made her house their home. And that's caused her nights to turn into worry sessions about her kids.

"I can't hardly sleep because I'm afraid to fall asleep if they get stung in the middle of the night." she said.

The bees are being removed, but Theresa's life has been already been flipped upside down.

"The smell of rotting honey is horrible." she said with the look of someone who's had her fill of that scent.

Especially when you consider how she has to do laundry now.

I have to lift up and climb through." she said while showing us the window she climbs over every time she has to wash clothes. She can't use the regular door because that's where the bees are.

Big Bear Trapping Service's Jason Rehr is working on getting the bees out, but that's proving to be more difficult than first thought. The first round was easy to find, but now he has to use a tiny camera to wind up into the walls to look for the rest.

"If they've been here 5 or 6 season and nobody's messed with them, they could be taking up the whole wall from the 1st floor to the 2nd floor." Jason said.

And that could mean anywhere from 5 to 10 million bees living inside Theresa's house and removing them could take a while.

For Theresa, she's taking it in stride. But there will be one permanent change once the door on this chapter of her life closes.

"I never want to eat honey again, ever." she said with a slight smile.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Kathy Location: Michigan on May 12, 2008 at 04:00 PM
I just want to reiderate what Jessica just said. Bees are inactive for a period of time plus the worker bees die off and the queen only can live for up to 6 years. So as to the question at hand, did these bees just hatch from the queen this season or have they been gone and just came back? As for the home owner contacted her attorney, I think that is a wise thing to do. Lucky not to have that problem here. As for any sympathetic readers out there if you have the notion to donate to this lady's cause there is a web sight that gives the information where to donate. Remember her insurance company is not paying for insect infestation,plus the husband is off in Iraq defending our freedom. I got the information to donate off the web its- Theresa M Manning 1St. Bank of Georgia 3527 Wheeler Raod Agusta, GA 30909 And with that - good luck Theresa in Georgia Happy to be living in Michigan and greatfull for the help of the military coverage that your husband gives this country.

Posted by: jessica Location: augusta on May 9, 2008 at 10:43 PM
JB: No bees are not active year round in Georgia, it gets cold and stuff stops blooming here just like IL. As for noticing a large number of bees around her house............you quite obviously have never visited the south, Georgia/SC area in particular. There are a whole lot of bugs out here, and I mean a LOT. Her house had no more bees around it that my apartment, and we don't have a hive in our walls. As for not noticing them before, they had a bat problem in the chimney and figured the noise came from that and since they had that taken care before the off season for bees there was no way to know that there was something other than bats in teh chimney. So maybe before you decided that someone isn't deserving of a little sympathy............... And as for the previous owners, what she is doing is between her and her attourney.

Posted by: jb Location: illinois on May 7, 2008 at 02:12 PM
The bee removal service believes the bees have been there for at least 5-6 seasons. So what has Ms. Manning & family been doing with the house for the past 2 years? I am assuming that bees are active in GA year-round, unlike IL. This did not just happen overnight. Why wasn't this discovered earlier? Didn't she notice a large number of bees around her house during the past year? Has she been a negligent homeowner? If she has recently moved into the house, she could sue the previous owners for all damages for non-disclosure. If not, then I don't feel sorry for her because she has not been maintaining her home. This is something that should have been noticed & handled long before it reached this level.

Posted by: Brittany Location: Granbury, Tx on May 2, 2008 at 09:07 PM
Wow, My regards to you and your family. I can't even imagine what that would even feel like.

Posted by: Maryalice Location: Augusta, GA on May 2, 2008 at 08:42 PM
This bee situation has turned out to be a serious problem for the Mannings. It is STILL not resolved & has caused a real hardship for Theresa, who is dealing with all this herself while Jack is deployed in Iraq. Expenses for the bee removal & repairs are currently at $8,000 & are rising. USAA Insurance, which has her homeowner's insurance policy, tells her they do not cover damage caused by insects. We are grateful to them both for the sacrifices they have made while Jack serves our Nation so that the rest of us here at home can enjoy the freedoms of this great country. Theresa is a very positive individual and does not complain. But she is very worried about how they are going to pay all these expenses which are proving to be overwhelming for a young family. First Bank of Georgia has set up an account for them if anyone would like to help them out: A/C #5060892 FBO Theresa M. Manning Jack W. Manning, Jr. First Bank of GA 3527 Wheeler Rd Augusta, GA 30909 Thanks.

Posted by: Michael Location: Augusta on May 2, 2008 at 05:46 PM
Honey bees are needed but in this area there are not a large amount of crops that need to be pollenated by bees. Moving bees is a common practice; bees have been shipped in the mail along with other helpful insects for years. These bees need to be and will be moved to another location where they can do some good, helping humankind live longer. Totally destroying the house or leaving it for the bees are not even viable solutions. The house is located in a housing development area... neighbors could easily become bee sting victims. As for the only danger being to those who are allergic to bees... anyone can die if they are stung by enough bees with or without being allergic. The hardest thing is dealing with the damage nature caused; this is not unlike a house being destroyed by a flood except it takes a little longer.

Posted by: Jessica Location: Augusta on May 2, 2008 at 04:38 AM
Uhhh williams, where do you suggest that they go once their house is burned down? Their insurance company is refusing to pay anything for the removal of the bees or the repair of the house. In case you are unaware of how much the military pays, it is not enough for a family of 5 to just up and ditch a house and go get a new one. I repeat, their insurance company isn't paying a dime for any of this and there is no way to know how much the removal is going to cost, and then there is the cost of making the house livable again.

Posted by: Epidi Location: Nazareth on May 1, 2008 at 02:25 PM
I agree that the bees should be saved if possible but maybe the state agricultural dept should compensate the family in some way. I thought honey never rotted. I've heard that in Egyptian digsites they found honey which once heated it melted and was as good as the day it was put in the containers. Likely the smell is the wood rotting from the moisture in the honey?

Posted by: Jay Location: Connecticut on May 1, 2008 at 01:28 PM
To think, these bees are probably worth millions to the farming community. And to have so many in one place. Maybe we should take some forclosed homes and introduce bees to them as a hive in farming communities. It seems they like houses. Just keep the houses in minimum order so they don't fall apart on the bees.

Posted by: Lisa Davis Location: colorado on May 1, 2008 at 01:06 PM
honey doesn't ROT!

Posted by: WILLIAMS Location: TENNESSEE on May 1, 2008 at 01:03 PM
I WOULD GET PERMISSION FROM THE CITY TO GET A PERMIT AND HAVE THE FIRE DPT.TO BURN THE HOUSE DOWN COMPLETELY. EVEN IF THE BEE KEEPER DOES REMOVE THE BEES NO TELLING HOW MANY MORE ARE LEFT IN THE SMALL SPACES WITHIN THE HOME. IN THE REPORT HE SAID IT COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM 5 TO 10 MILLION BEES THATS A BIG DIFFERENCE FROM 100-200 BEES. I WOULD HAVE THE FIRE DEPT. POSITIONED IN THE BACK OF THE HOME AND THE OTHERE 2 FIRE DEPT.ON THE SIDE AND FRONT SO THEY CAN GET RID OF THEM. HER FAMILY IS MOST IMPORTANT. THE KIDS MIGHT BE ALLERGIC AND IF THEY GET STUNG MULTIPLE TIMES IT COULD KILL THEM OR PUT THEM IN SHOCK. THEY CAN EVEN HAVE THE A BEE KEEPER STANDING BY AS AN ALTERNATIVE.....

Posted by: Amanda Location: Augusta on May 1, 2008 at 06:25 AM
There is a saying that once all the honey bees disappear human civilization is not far behind. I think people underestimate the importance bees play in our lives, pollination of all the vegetables and fruits we eat. The situation is dire. I feel as many honey bees as possible should be saved and relocated to a safe area as well as this woman's home restored.

Posted by: Erica Location: Michigan on Apr 30, 2008 at 08:49 PM
I agree with kathy and rachel. This family of five should not be put second to the bees. This is why they hired professional bee keepers to evacute the bees. They will not be harmed. As kathy said the home is a habitat for humans not for bees but they will safely be removed. What we need to do right now is try to help the Mannings during this time in any way possible. If there are any suggestions to what we can do please comment and help this loving family out... Concerned sister and aunt to the family

Posted by: Kathy Location: Michigan on Apr 30, 2008 at 12:11 PM
In responce to Carlos I am all for protecting the Bees and gratefull for what they do for us but come on? This home is for human habitat not bees, plus where is the family to go and continue their lives and for what price are they to pay for being homeless unless you have a place they can have for free in exchange for the safety of the bees. Equal value of course. This is from a concerened Mother of two children herself that fears for the three children living in that house. If any one has a heart big enough to help out this family in their time of need please this would be the time. Hopefull in Michigan

Posted by: Rachel Location: Augusta on Apr 30, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Carlos in response to your comment...Maybe you should trade houses with her. A family of five should not be but second to Bees. They have no intentions of harming them and are trying there best to remove them safely. This report also fails to tell you that her insurance company is refusing to pay damages which are in excess of $8000 and steadily rising. The Mannings are a second family to me and if there is anyone that knows a way to help them out, myself and the rest of the people who care about them, would be very grateful.

Posted by: carlos Location: north augusta on Apr 29, 2008 at 11:45 PM
You reported that the honey bees are disappearing at a rapid rate and dont know where they are going. If they found that many at one spot and took the chance of moving them, aren't they taking the chance of killing them? Why move them? I know that was someone's place of residence, but shouldn't they been more concerned with the bees and since they are so important to our way of life?

Posted by: Betty Location: Fairfax, S.C. on Apr 29, 2008 at 06:52 PM
I can't say that I blame her. I would get the heck out of Dodge and give them the whole house. I am scared to death of bee's. Good luck girl!!!!

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