Houston man’s pets killed by aggressive bee colony

HOUSTON — A southwest Houston man is still in shock after all of his pets were killed by a colony of aggressive bees that built their hive in the wall of his home.

“I'm heartbroken,” says Antawine Williams, whose six dogs were killed by the bees. “And to know I lost my animals to some bees? Bees?”

Williams says he knew there were bees in the wall of his home for a while but they had never caused any problems.

“I knew they were there, but I didn't know to what extent,” Williams said. “And they never attacked before.”

Williams says a neighbor was doing some yard work around his home this week and helping him because he uses a wheelchair. Soon after the weed whacker started, Williams says he heard his dogs in the backyard going crazy.

When he got outside, he saw them covered in bees.

“I literally went out there and fought them off,” Williams said. “But it was too late. I'm getting stung.”

All of his dogs died: “Rambo,” “Misty” and their newborn litter of four puppies.

“Such a horrible death for it to be bees,” Williams said.

The neighbors who came to help were also attacked.

“You know they're just attacking everything that moves,” Williams said.

Williams called Mike Sexton with 911 Pest Control and 911 Honeybee Removal after he says the city would not help and other bee removal services said it would cost several thousand dollars to get rid of the bees.

“I love bees, but when they're aggressive and it comes to animals and human life, I'm going to take them out,” Sexton said. “I did a thermal image on the wall, and it's the whole entire wall.”

Sexton says bees are coming out of their dormant winter phase right now, but the colony at Williams' home is especially aggressive.

“They will paint you with a scent,” Sexton said. “Once one paints you they're all on you. Look they're all over the camera now. They will get you and they will kill you.”

Sexton says dealing with beehives is something that should only be dealt with by professionals.

“Do not attempt to do this yourself,” he said. “All it takes for them is a second and they're all on you.”

Sexton says as soon as you find evidence of a beehive in your home, you need to call for help.

Sadly, it is too late for Williams, who says he wishes he had called for help sooner.

“I never want to see nothing like that again in my life,” Williams says. “That was horrible. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. Bees? Bees?”