Every bee attack in the California tracker
These are the 36 bee attacks behind the numbers on my California Bee Attack Tracker. For each one you get the date, the city, what was reported and a link to the original report.
All 36 bee attacks logged in California
Newest first. Each one links to the report I read before adding it.
Jun. 20, 2026 · Moreno Valley
Bees stung multiple people in a store parking lot on Day Street. Three were taken to a hospital with mild to moderate injuries.
Reported by Patch, citing Riverside County Fire Department. Read the report
Jul. 24, 2025 · Santee
A grandmother was stung hundreds of times in her family's yard. A plumber who pulled her away was stung dozens of times.
Reported by ABC 10News San Diego. Read the report
Oct. 7, 2024 · Scripps Ranch, San Diego
Three people were stung at a neighborhood park and two were hospitalized. One woman was stung hundreds of times. The bees were around a utility cover.
Reported by NBC 7 San Diego. Read the report
Aug. 9, 2024 · Jurupa Valley
A man was stung more than 200 times while feeding his horses. He and his 12-year-old son were taken to a hospital, and he said two of the horses died. The colony had lived under a feed shed for about two years.
Reported by ABC7 Los Angeles; Riverside County Fire Department. Read the report
Aug. 7, 2024 · Lemon Grove
Bees attacked a family at a backyard pool. Three people were taken to a hospital and the family dog died.
Reported by ABC 10News San Diego. Read the report
Apr. 22, 2024 · San Marcos
A 68-year-old church volunteer's tractor hit old pipes with hives inside. He counted more than 120 stings and spent four days in the hospital.
Reported by ABC 10News San Diego. Read the report
Jun. 28, 2023 · Murrieta
A 74-year-old woman was stung hundreds of times outside her home, and a firefighter was hospitalized too. The colony was living in the walls of the house.
Reported by CBS Los Angeles; KTLA. Read the report
May 2023 · Lake Mathews
A homeowner tried to remove a hive from a fence himself. The bees attacked a neighbor's dog, which died days later.
Reported by ABC7 Los Angeles. Read the report
May 15, 2023 · Encino, Los Angeles
Bees from a hive under a roof sent a man and an LAPD volunteer officer to the hospital. The volunteer was stung dozens of times, fell on his face in the street and needed facial surgery. A bee removal contractor was working on the hive.
Reported by ABC7 Los Angeles; Los Angeles Times, via Police1. Read the report
Jul. 24, 2021 · Diamond Bar
A man was stung nearly 50 times in his backyard and hospitalized. Two dogs died.
Reported by ABC7 Los Angeles. Read the report
Jun. 22, 2021 · Fountain Valley
Bees swarmed people in a restaurant parking lot. Three were taken to a hospital, and three firefighters and a police officer were stung.
Reported by Los Angeles Times, via Firehouse. Read the report
Feb. 20, 2020 · Pasadena
Five people were hospitalized, including two firefighters and a police officer. Officials estimated up to 40,000 bees, believed to be living in the walls of a hotel.
Reported by Pasadena Fire Department, via Yahoo News. Read the report
Sept. 28, 2019 · Banning
One person was stung more than 100 times and hospitalized. A second person with fewer stings drove to the hospital.
Reported by The Desert Sun, via FOX 29; Cal Fire. Read the report
Feb. 24, 2019 · Canyon Country
Two women were hospitalized after a swarm attack. One dog was killed and another was injured.
Reported by The Santa Clarita Valley Signal. Read the report
Jul. 16, 2018 · Lake Forest
A housekeeper was stung about 200 times and listed in critical condition. Four firefighters were stung and two were hospitalized. The hive was in a gas meter.
Reported by ABC7 Los Angeles; Orange County Fire Authority. Read the report
Sept. 2017 · Monterey Park
A firefighter and five other people were taken to a hospital after bees from a hive in a tree stung people in a grocery store parking lot.
Reported by FireRescue1. Read the report
Jul. 3, 2017 · A California date palm orchard
A 49-year-old foreman died of anaphylactic shock after spraying a cluster of dates that hid a hive. He was allergic to stings.
Reported by CDPH, FACE Report 17CA003. Read the report
Jun. 18, 2017 · Vista
Bees attacked two sisters as they got out of a car at home and killed the family dog. The hive was under the eaves of the roof.
Reported by Fox News. Read the report
Jun. 17, 2017 · Huntington Beach
A woman was hospitalized after a swarm attacked her near a regional park. One firefighter was stung.
Reported by LAist, citing Huntington Beach Fire Department. Read the report
2017 · Ceres
A beekeeper's colony turned on him while he harvested honey, then attacked a neighbor's two dogs. One dog died.
Reported by HuffPost, citing Ceres Fire Department. Read the report
Feb. 23, 2017 · Norco
A dog and her three puppies were killed, and two people were hospitalized. The hive was in a hollow tree.
Reported by CBS News. Read the report
Sept. 3, 2016 · Cerritos
More than 20 people were stung at Cerritos Regional Park and three were hospitalized.
Reported by Fox News, citing Los Angeles County Fire Department. Read the report
May 13, 2016 · Concord
Bees from a backyard beekeeper's hive attacked residents and a mail carrier over a weekend. Two dogs were killed.
Reported by CBS News. Read the report
Aug. 3, 2015 · Riverside
A 49-year-old electrician died of an allergic reaction after a grading crew ran over a sprinkler box with a hive in it. Two coworkers were also stung.
Reported by CBS News; Riverside Fire Department. Read the report
Jul. 5, 2015 · Loma Linda
A man bathing his dog was stung about 100 times and hospitalized. The dog, a golden retriever, died the next day. Three firefighters were stung.
Reported by ABC7 Los Angeles; East Valley Fire Department. Read the report
Mar. 12, 2015 · Desert Hot Springs
Bees swarmed a triplex. One person was stung repeatedly and taken to a hospital in serious condition, and firefighters rescued a family.
Reported by CBS Los Angeles, citing Riverside County Fire Department. Read the report
Mar. 9, 2014 · La Cañada
A car crashed into a tree that held a hive. Two women, 17 and 51, were stung and taken to a hospital.
Reported by KPCC, via LAist. Read the report
Mar. 6, 2014 · Palm Desert
A 71-year-old woman was stung about 1,000 times while sitting in her car. Five firefighters were stung and three were hospitalized. About 75,000 bees were believed to be living in a buried cable box.
Reported by International Business Times, citing KCBS-TV. Read the report
Jul. 24, 2012 · Indio
A gardener trimming a palm disturbed a hive in the trunk. He and the homeowner were hospitalized with about 80 and more than 100 stings.
Reported by Associated Press, via Fox News, citing The Desert Sun. Read the report
Sept. 15, 2011 · Santa Ana
A man in a wheelchair disturbed a hive in a storage yard and was stung more than 60 times. He and three men who pulled him out were hospitalized, and two firefighters were stung. Beekeepers estimated 60,000 bees.
Reported by NBC News, citing Santa Ana Fire Department. Read the report
Aug. 24, 2011 · Redondo Beach
A 95-year-old man walked past an apartment building while an exterminator was treating a roof hive. The hospital stopped counting his stings at 400. He survived.
Reported by International Business Times, citing Redondo Beach police. Read the report
May 1, 2011 · Torrance
A family came home to find their dog covered in stingers. The dog died minutes later. The hive was under an eave of the house.
Reported by CBS Los Angeles. Read the report
Mar. 9, 2011 · Alpine
A gardener was stung on the head and neck and taken to a hospital with an allergic reaction. One hive was in the eave above where he was working.
Reported by East County Magazine; Associated Press. Read the report
Jul. 13, 2010 · Lemon Grove
A man and a woman who owned the bees were stung and taken to a hospital.
Reported by East County Magazine, citing San Diego County Sheriff. Read the report
Jun. 16, 2010 · Encinitas
A 55-year-old man clearing brush hit a ground nest with a backhoe. He was stung more than 500 times and died. He was allergic to stings.
Reported by Fox News. Read the report
May 21, 2010 · Tecate
A 68-year-old man was still being stung when Cal Fire crews arrived. They moved him into a fire engine and called for a medical helicopter.
Reported by East County Magazine, citing Cal Fire. Read the report
Attacks where a person died
All three were men stung while working with equipment.
Jul. 3, 2017 · A California date palm orchard
A 49-year-old foreman died of anaphylactic shock after spraying a cluster of dates that hid a hive. He was allergic to stings.
Reported by CDPH, FACE Report 17CA003. Read the report
Aug. 3, 2015 · Riverside
A 49-year-old electrician died of an allergic reaction after a grading crew ran over a sprinkler box with a hive in it. Two coworkers were also stung.
Reported by CBS News; Riverside Fire Department. Read the report
Jun. 16, 2010 · Encinitas
A 55-year-old man clearing brush hit a ground nest with a backhoe. He was stung more than 500 times and died. He was allergic to stings.
Reported by Fox News. Read the report
Attacks where firefighters or police were stung
Crews often reach the victim before they have protective gear on.
Jun. 28, 2023 · Murrieta
A 74-year-old woman was stung hundreds of times outside her home, and a firefighter was hospitalized too. The colony was living in the walls of the house.
Reported by CBS Los Angeles; KTLA. Read the report
May 15, 2023 · Encino, Los Angeles
Bees from a hive under a roof sent a man and an LAPD volunteer officer to the hospital. The volunteer was stung dozens of times, fell on his face in the street and needed facial surgery. A bee removal contractor was working on the hive.
Reported by ABC7 Los Angeles; Los Angeles Times, via Police1. Read the report
Jun. 22, 2021 · Fountain Valley
Bees swarmed people in a restaurant parking lot. Three were taken to a hospital, and three firefighters and a police officer were stung.
Reported by Los Angeles Times, via Firehouse. Read the report
Feb. 20, 2020 · Pasadena
Five people were hospitalized, including two firefighters and a police officer. Officials estimated up to 40,000 bees, believed to be living in the walls of a hotel.
Reported by Pasadena Fire Department, via Yahoo News. Read the report
Jul. 16, 2018 · Lake Forest
A housekeeper was stung about 200 times and listed in critical condition. Four firefighters were stung and two were hospitalized. The hive was in a gas meter.
Reported by ABC7 Los Angeles; Orange County Fire Authority. Read the report
Sept. 2017 · Monterey Park
A firefighter and five other people were taken to a hospital after bees from a hive in a tree stung people in a grocery store parking lot.
Reported by FireRescue1. Read the report
Jun. 17, 2017 · Huntington Beach
A woman was hospitalized after a swarm attacked her near a regional park. One firefighter was stung.
Reported by LAist, citing Huntington Beach Fire Department. Read the report
Jul. 5, 2015 · Loma Linda
A man bathing his dog was stung about 100 times and hospitalized. The dog, a golden retriever, died the next day. Three firefighters were stung.
Reported by ABC7 Los Angeles; East Valley Fire Department. Read the report
Mar. 6, 2014 · Palm Desert
A 71-year-old woman was stung about 1,000 times while sitting in her car. Five firefighters were stung and three were hospitalized. About 75,000 bees were believed to be living in a buried cable box.
Reported by International Business Times, citing KCBS-TV. Read the report
Sept. 15, 2011 · Santa Ana
A man in a wheelchair disturbed a hive in a storage yard and was stung more than 60 times. He and three men who pulled him out were hospitalized, and two firefighters were stung. Beekeepers estimated 60,000 bees.
Reported by NBC News, citing Santa Ana Fire Department. Read the report
Attacks where a dog or horse died
Pets that are fenced in, tied up or kenneled cannot get away.
Aug. 9, 2024 · Jurupa Valley
A man was stung more than 200 times while feeding his horses. He and his 12-year-old son were taken to a hospital, and he said two of the horses died. The colony had lived under a feed shed for about two years.
Reported by ABC7 Los Angeles; Riverside County Fire Department. Read the report
Aug. 7, 2024 · Lemon Grove
Bees attacked a family at a backyard pool. Three people were taken to a hospital and the family dog died.
Reported by ABC 10News San Diego. Read the report
May 2023 · Lake Mathews
A homeowner tried to remove a hive from a fence himself. The bees attacked a neighbor's dog, which died days later.
Reported by ABC7 Los Angeles. Read the report
Jul. 24, 2021 · Diamond Bar
A man was stung nearly 50 times in his backyard and hospitalized. Two dogs died.
Reported by ABC7 Los Angeles. Read the report
Feb. 24, 2019 · Canyon Country
Two women were hospitalized after a swarm attack. One dog was killed and another was injured.
Reported by The Santa Clarita Valley Signal. Read the report
Jun. 18, 2017 · Vista
Bees attacked two sisters as they got out of a car at home and killed the family dog. The hive was under the eaves of the roof.
Reported by Fox News. Read the report
2017 · Ceres
A beekeeper's colony turned on him while he harvested honey, then attacked a neighbor's two dogs. One dog died.
Reported by HuffPost, citing Ceres Fire Department. Read the report
Feb. 23, 2017 · Norco
A dog and her three puppies were killed, and two people were hospitalized. The hive was in a hollow tree.
Reported by CBS News. Read the report
May 13, 2016 · Concord
Bees from a backyard beekeeper's hive attacked residents and a mail carrier over a weekend. Two dogs were killed.
Reported by CBS News. Read the report
Jul. 5, 2015 · Loma Linda
A man bathing his dog was stung about 100 times and hospitalized. The dog, a golden retriever, died the next day. Three firefighters were stung.
Reported by ABC7 Los Angeles; East Valley Fire Department. Read the report
May 1, 2011 · Torrance
A family came home to find their dog covered in stingers. The dog died minutes later. The hive was under an eave of the house.
Reported by CBS Los Angeles. Read the report
How I built this list
I read a news report, fire department statement or state agency report for every incident before adding it. Sting counts and injuries are the ones given in that report. It is a log of reported attacks, so it is not a complete count. Some links may stop working as news sites remove old stories.
The patterns, safety guidance and my own advice are on the main California Bee Attack Tracker page. If you know of an attack I missed, send me the date, the city and a link through the contact page.