A shocking incident unfolded in Texas when a swarm of bees attacked and killed three American quarter horses owned by Baillie Hillman. Then, a tragic, unfortunate event occurred on her property. The horses Clovis, Pepper and Ace were stung multiple times, killing them too early. While this episode has raised alarms and outrage, positive and negative impacts of animal invaders Africanized honey bees—more colloquially known as killer bees—are highly dangerous.
That’s when Hillman realized something was really wrong, and it was confirmed when she saw her horses acting strangely. Clovis, nine, Pepper, five, and Ace, six, were all her beloved equine family members. Their urgent plight drove Hillman to research more deeply, an effort that drew her into the frightening world of the bees.
The Attack and Its Aftermath
When Baillie Hillman walked outside, she immediately knew the commotion was coming from bees. She recalled her horrifying experience:
“They attacked me as soon as I got outside.” – Baillie Hillman
Hillman said it was a nonstop attack, and very aggressive. They took over her ears, hair, and glasses, rendering any attempt at a getaway impossible.
“They were in my ears, my glasses, my hair.” – Baillie Hillman
Her first priority was for her horses, who were quickly getting eaten alive by the horde. This is how the situation quickly became a crisis as she tried to get support from her local firefighters and EMTs.
One of the first on-scene responders was Shane Stalnacker, a neighbor who watched the crash happen. He thanked the Guthrie Volunteer Fire Department for responding to protect people during the immediate threat with bee suits to help.
“We got assistance from the Guthrie Volunteer Fire Department, who brought bee suits.” – Shane Stalnacker
The horses received hundreds to thousands of stings, most concentrated around areas sensitive even in equines, like their eyes, nostrils, and mouths. Despite the rescue’s best efforts to save them, Clovis, Pepper and Ace were unable to overcome their injuries and passed away.
Discovery of the Hive
Investigators were able to track the source of the attack a massive beehive. They discovered it literally at the property line between two residential buildings. The hive stretched nearly seven feet in length and was occupied by millions of bees. Experts nailed it down as probably being Africanized honey bees. These bees are the most aggressive bee species. They are a cross between African honey bees and local honey bees, first introduced to Brazil in 1956.
Africanized honey bees have a well-deserved reputation for aggression. Once bees detect any danger to their hive, they swarm by the thousands and attack en masse. Hillman expressed her concern about the implications of this incident:
“We haven’t had it confirmed that they were Africanized, but everyone’s saying they couldn’t imagine it being anything else due to their sheer numbers and their extremely aggressive behavior. They didn’t give up.” – Baillie Hillman
Stalnacker also called attention to the timing of Wednesday’s incident. He mentioned that our neighbors had just mowed their lawn that morning, possibly causing the bees to become alarmed and go into a murderous panic.
“Bees are pretty dormant in the cool mornings, then when the temperature started to warm up, the bees came out and were upset and they found the horses and attacked them.” – Shane Stalnacker
A Community in Mourning
Losing her best friends Clovis, Pepper and Ace has hit hard on Hillman and her partner James Ramirez. Each horse was central to their survival. Clovis was a pretty good team roping horse at the time. Ace was an up-and-coming calf roping horse. In addition to the family farm, Pepper was an aspiring barrel racing competitor.
Sadly, Hillman herself was injured in the attack and needed medical care. She would be overcome with huge reactions that caused her to seize. Tragically, Hillman’s health deteriorated following the incident.
“Pepper was my up-and-coming carrel horse, Clovis was my team roping horse. Ace was James’ up-and-coming calf roping horse.” – Baillie Hillman
Hillman hopes that by sharing her story, she can educate people to understand the dangers of Africanized honey bees.
“His head swelled up and we think he died of a seizure.” – Baillie Hillman
She expressed her concerns regarding the particularly nasty bees. She was terrified that they would, in some circumstances, electrocute children or elderly people who couldn’t get out in time.
“I just hope the story can get out there so people can be aware,” she said.
The recent South Carolina attack is a tragic reminder about the risks that aggressive bee species can pose, even in our backyards. Local jurisdictional authorities and animal welfare organizations should review policies and safety guidelines associated with these insects to ensure another tragedy doesn’t occur again.
“You hear that the Africanized bees are here and that they’re around but you don’t realize what that means. If they can kill three horses, what could they do to kids or an elderly person that can’t run?” – Baillie Hillman
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers posed by aggressive bee species in residential areas. Local authorities and animal welfare organizations may need to reassess safety protocols regarding these insects to prevent future tragedies.
Leave a Reply