Beekeeper safely relocates 30,000-bee swarm causing alarm in Belgian town

Residents in the vicinity of Voetbalstraat in Veurne, Belgium, were startled Thursday evening when a swarm of approximately 30,000 bees settled in their gardens and homes. The sudden appearance caused panic, with some residents seeking shelter indoors.

“

It was impressive but also frightening. They were swarming all the time and caused panic. Even the pigeons of our neighbor seemed to be attacked.

"It was impressive but also frightening," one resident recounted. "They were swarming all the time and caused panic. Even our neighbor's pigeons seemed to be attacked."

Local hobby beekeeper Pieter Glorie, who lives nearby, was called to the scene. He found the swarm resting on a bush. Glorie explained that bee populations are strongest at this time of year. Swarming occurs when a colony becomes too large or faces food shortages, leading the existing queen to depart with about half the bees to find a new home.

“

I suspect there were about 30,000 of them. The bee colony is at its strongest this time of year. If the colony becomes too large or if there is too little food for everyone, the colony decides that a new queen may be born. At that moment, the group splits in two and the old queen leaves with half the colony in search of a new home. Then they swarm out as one large mass in search of a suitable place and that can certainly be impressive.

Glorie carefully collected the swarm into a hive, explaining that the bees follow the queen's pheromones. He provided the colony with a new hive containing honey, ensuring a good start. Glorie expressed satisfaction in resolving the situation, noting it was a win-win: residents were freed from the swarm, and he gained a new bee colony, adding to his existing six.

“

That is a win-win situation. People are rid of the swarm and I have a new colony.