A resident of Chevy Chase contacted a repairman due to a leaky roof but discovered an even larger issue: 50,000 bees.
Lauren Ashburn said her family had seen some bees in an upstairs room but had no ideas there were tens of thousands.
The video depicts clouds of bees covering Ashburn’s ceiling.
“If I had known there were 50,000 bees inside my home, I believe I wouldn’t have been able to sleep at night,” Ashburn stated.
Whom do you contact when dealing with a massive bee problem?
Capitol Bee Care suited up and got to work.
“So we’re just rehousing them, we’re taking all of their furniture, all of their stuff from the pantry, their kids, the nursery, everything else, and we’re putting it in a new box and then we are reestablishing the adult bees.” said Rachel Grace, a beekeeper with Capitol Bee Care.
With a specialized device known as a “bee vac,” they drew the bees off the rooftop using suction.
“This is a comprehensive endeavor for me. I derive pleasure from it,” stated Sean McKenzie, who is also a beekeeper at Capitol Bee Care.
Ashburn expressed her gratitude for the discovery and removal of the bees.
“I’ve never been happier in my life to have a leak in my roof!” she exclaimed laughing.
The entire colony, together with the queen bee, was transferred to a bee sanctuary, along with the honeycomb structures they had built.
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As per Pat McTavish, the roofer who found the bees, he stated that they “were likely trapped within both the walls and the ceiling.”
This isn’t the first time McTavish has taken on the role of a beekeeper. He posted footage of himself tackling an affected site elsewhere.
He mentioned that not only do they handle roofing, but they also offer bee removal services.
When asked whether he has ever been stung during the procedures, McTavish replied, “Yes, but it’s not any worse than smashing your finger with a hammer.”
Within just two days, Capitol Bee Care eliminated the infestation at the house and completed the leftover bee vacuums.
The beekeepers said they’re called for these types of removals about a dozen times per year. As the Ashburns’ home, an area was patched and sealed so they can’t come back.
Ashburn described the whole encounter as frightening.
“They’re little but they’re really scary,” she said.
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