Bee swarms are NOT normally aggressive because they are gorged full of honey and homeless, which reduces their defensive behavior. A swarm will become increasingly defensive, if provoked, the longer it remains in a given location. In the original colony, a new queen emerges and continues to maintain the parent colony.

Will a swarm of bees attack?

Bee attacks frequently happen when a person is mowing the lawn or pruning shrubs and inadvertently strikes a nest. 2. If you encounter a swarm, run as quickly as you can in a straight line away from the bees. ... Because bees target the head and eyes, cover your head as much as you can without slowing your escape.

Can a swarm of bees chase you?

Some bees may pursue victims a half mile or more before giving up the chase. ... “We were trying to breathe and they were stinging us in the face and in the nose.” Water is a poor shelter from bee attack. Once you've escaped the swarm, remove any stingers from your skin as soon as possible.