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Bees continue to pester the region

Brief spells of cool whether have yet to put a dent in the unusually high number of bee stings this year. Backus Hospital Emergency Department statistics continue to show that the bees continue to buzz – and sting.

According to Backus Hospital Emergency Department statistics, the number of patients who came to the ED for bee stings through Aug. 20 was 63, compared to 41 for all of August 2006. July was more than double what it was last year – 62 compared to 29 in 2006.

Backus isn’t the only facility noticing the influx.  Those who have to work outdoors – from landscapers to oil companies to extermination businesses – all say the same thing: It’s one of the worst years for bees they’ve ever seen

“In the six years since I’ve been at Acorn Exterminating, it’s been the busiest year we’ve had for bees,” said Ernie Dillon, a pest control tech at the North Stonington-based business who said he has bee exterminations jobs to do over the next couple days. “It’s been just unbelievable this year.”

William Coffey, owner of Acorn Exterminating, said that for the month of August, his firm took on 35 bee extermination jobs. In August 2006, there were only nine.

John Anderson, PhD, an entomologist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven, said yellow jackets are likely the culprit. He said his facility has seen increased numbers of calls coming in for bee stings.

“The number of yellow jackets seems to be up this year,” he said, adding that the mild winter might have something to do with it.

Coffey said that cool whether typically slows down the bee activity, which generally means by November the threat is for the most part over.

Robert Sidman, MD, Chief of Emergency Services at Backus, has health tips for those stung by bees. He said to utilize Bendryl; make sure the stinger doesn’t stay in because it can cause infection; and call 911 if you have difficulty breathing or tightness in the throat.