Africanized bees invade Houston neighborhood

(6/20/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- An entire southeast Houston neighborhood is under siege by Africanized bees. More than a million of the aggressive bees swarmed a house trapping the homeowner inside.

While covering this story, the bees were so bad, that we got stuck while waiting for help to arrive.

"I'm captured in my own house," said Ruth Gray.

It's happening in a neighborhood near Southwind and Southbank. Gray says the bees showed up at the house next door three years ago. That house has been vacant for 17 years.

"They can kill you if enough of them get you," she said.

Over time, the number of bees began to grow and so did their level of aggression. Even the mailman stopped delivering to the door.

"You would see one or two, but as you got closer, they will all come out and attack," said the unidentified postal employee.

Despite numerous calls to the city of Houston for help, no one came. Although Gray couldn't afford an exterminator, she turned to a pest control company to try and determine if the situation was really dangerous.

Upon looking at the situation in his protective bee suit, Claude Griffin of Gotcha Pest Control yelled, "That is instant, instant death!"

In minutes, Griffin discovered this is one of the biggest infestations he had ever come across. The bees had taken over more than a quarter of the house. Griffin determined the entire neighborhood was at risk and had no choice but to destroy the entire hive right then. It's a task he says the city should be providing for vacant houses.

"People get killed all of the time, somebody could have come up here or these bees would have killed that lady in a minute," he said.

Once the bees were disturbed this afternoon they attacked. Three children had to go to the hospital.

Gray's story is not unique. There are numerous vacant homes on her street and at least a couple of them have bees.

We tried to contact city officials tonight, but could never get anyone in person.

Do you know other Houston areas terrorized by bees? Let us know.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

Get more News »

• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•