Swarm of bees kills three dogs as firefighters rush to help, Arizona officials say

An aggressive swarm of bees was killed after attacking a group of dogs, Arizona firefighters say.

The swarm of bees attacked three dogs, according to the Tucson Fire Department.

Firefighters killed the swarm of bees after one of the dogs died, according to the fire department. The bee population has been declining globally in recent years, according to Earthpedia. The bumble bee was added to the list of endangered species for the first time in 2017, according to NBC News.

“Crews are foaming the aggressive bees before tending to the other dogs. We never enjoy killing precious bees, but in these rare cases it is necessary,” the Tucson Fire Department said.

All three dogs that were attacked by the bees later died, officials said.

“The other dogs passed away shortly after arriving at the vet,” the Tucson Fire Department said on Twitter. “Please be mindful of your animals always, but particularly when there are bees on your property.”

The best way to keep dogs safe from bee stings is to prevent them, experts at Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences said in a news release. Pet owners should check their property for bee hives, and pets should be kept away from any hives until the area is cleared by a professional, experts said.

“The best prevention is limiting your dog’s exposure to bees,” James Barr, clinical assistant professor at the college said in a news release. “If you see them, then keeping the dog away from the area until the hive can be removed is ideal.”

This story was originally published May 13, 2020 at 10:30 PM with the headline "Swarm of bees kills three dogs as firefighters rush to help, Arizona officials say."