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Three Beloved Rodeo Horses Killed in Bee Attack; Owners Stung, Comanche VFD Says

May 13, 2025 | Filed under: Featured,The Buzz | Posted by:     
The term “Africanized bees” strikes terror in horse owners’ hearts – perhaps everyone’s hearts – and the news of three horses killed due to a bee attack this week in Texas brings the fear to the forefront.

Since that time, we’ve learned just a bit more about africanized honey bees, and we encourage you to learn with us.

Watch for more from The Equine Chronicle in coming days about this topic, but for now, we’ve shared two valuable articles below. The first, the news story from KWTK Channel 10 in Waco, Texas, and next, what Utah State University can bring to light about Africanized honey bees.

Horses were sprayed with soapy water from the fire truck’s tank in an attempt to stop the bees. Photo from KWTX social media.

COMANCHE, Texas (KWTX) – Three rodeo horses considered to be like “family” to the owners were killed during an attack from Africanized bees, the Comanche Volunteer Fire Department said in a social media post.
See the entire story published May 13, 2025 by Danika Young of KWTK, as well as video:

AdobeStock image

Africanized Honey Bees – from Utah State University

November 2010
Erin W. Hodgson, Extension Entomology Specialist (No longer at USU) • Cory A. Stanley, CAPS Coordinator • Alan H. Roe, Insect Diagnostician (No longer at USU) • Danielle Downey, Entomologist, State Apiarist

Do You Know?

  • Africanized honey bees, sometimes called “killer bees,” were detected in Utah for the first time in 2008.
  • These bees are more aggressive and will defend the nest in greater numbers compared to domesticated honey bees in the United States; their sting is not more painful or venomous than other honey bees.
  • Although Africanized honey bees are feared by the public, very few people are actually attacked each year.

The reason attacks like that experienced by the rodeo family this week in Comanche, Texas, was so horrific was in part due to sheer numbers. See below:

  • Africanized honey bees are more likely to nest in small locations, like water meter boxes, cement blocks, old tires and grills. Colonies are more likely to nest underground and migrate for food.
  • The colony dedicates more members to “guard” the nest and deploys greater numbers for defense when threatened. For example, a European honey bee colony may send out 10 soldiers to defend against a potential intruder, while Africanized honey bees may send out more than 1,000 soldiers.

 

Read the complete USU article:
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