Thousands of bees swarm SUV

Bees smoked off vehicle and moved to hive

LEAGUE CITY, Texas – A bee invasion on a vehicle is an example of buzzing behavior that could soon become more common, an expert says.

The ordeal started when Renee Conlan and her friend Laura stopped to grab a lunch outside Houston. When they returned to the parking lot with bags in hand, the two discovered several thousands of bees clustered on the back window of the white Honda SUV.

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"The whole back corner of her car, it almost looked like a heart," said Conlan. "It was totally covered in this mound of bees."

Conlan caught the amazing scene on her cell phone camera. Her friend contacted Animal Control, which sent bee keeper Sean Kennedy.

"Most of the time you take your smoker and chase them off," said Kennedy.

Kennedy got the bees off the SUV and into a bucket. Now they're living in a new home on his own bee hive rehabilitation land.

The small insects are keeping Kennedy quite busy. The day before they took a liking to the SUV, the Dudney Nature Center in League City, Texas shut down because of possible dangerous bee activity. Kennedy also relocated that hive.

Kennedy said the bees in the park were in a natural habitat whereas the swarm on the SUV may have been the resulted of unusual factors.

"The wax that they used on the paint, that could've attracted them," said Kennedy.

He said a smell or color on the car could also draw bees, who are looking for a new home or place to rest. The mild winter may also cause the insects to fill the area early, according to Kennedy.

"They're doing things now that they don't usually do until April," said Kennedy.

Whatever the reason, Conlan said she is relieved that most of the bees are now safe in their new home.

"It was a unique experience," said Conlan.