A hiker is recovering after being stung more than 100 times by bees on Lookout Mountain in Arizona, authorities said.
The Phoenix Fire Department responded around 10 a.m. Saturday, after receiving reports of a man stung repeatedly near the mountain summit. Rescue crews found the hiker unable to descend on his own. Firefighters used a helicopter hoist, known as Firebird 10, to bring him safely down. He was then transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Bees are common on Lookout Mountain, with nearly all wild bees in Arizona being Africanized honey bees, often called “killer bees” for their aggressive behavior and protection of hives. These bees, a hybrid of European and African subspecies, were accidentally released in Brazil in the 1950s and have spread north into the United States.
Africanized honey bees tend to sting more when threatened, which can be dangerous, particularly for people allergic to stings or with limited ability to escape. The fire department advised hikers to avoid disturbing hives, skip scented products, wear light-colored clothing, and, if swarmed, to run, hide, and protect their head and face without swatting at the bees.
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