Bee swarm attacks hikers, kills dog in Chatsworth

A swarm of bees stung a group of teenage boys hiking in a San Fernando Valley park Tuesday, sending one of them to the hospital and killing a dog that disturbed the beehive, according to the Associated Press.

The five boys and the dog, a boxer named Rocky, were hiking in Stoney Point Park in Chatsworth when the attack occurred, said Jane Kolb, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.

The bees stung Rocky and the boys numerous times, Kolb said.

One of the boys, who tried to pick up the dog and carry it to safety, was stung "as many as 200 times," Chris Jones, the father of one of the teenagers and the owner of Rocky, told KCAL-TV.

"He carried the dog as far as he could and then collapsed," Jones said.

The injured teenager, Brian Magbitang, was taken to a hospital for treatment. He was given pain medication and released.

Magbitang told KCAL that he saw blood dripping from Rocky's mouth when he grabbed the dog. He said Rocky collapsed in his arms, and he later dropped the dog when "the bees were way too much. They were in my mouth and I tried to wave them off."

The bees continued to swarm near Rocky, prompting authorities to close access to the trail so they could retrieve the downed animal.

-- Francisco Vara-Orta

Photo: Robert Durell /Los Angeles Times

Comments

[John Kirk]

I saw this story on the news last night. I can't remember when I've seen something so violent and sad, so unnecessary and cruel. I cannot imagine the excrucuating pain that that dog went through. I hope it didn't last long. Most people don't believe that dogs "go to heaven," but I do,and I prayed until I fell asleep that this precious dog is in a better place now. The one good side of the story is the bravery of Brian, the dog owner's friend. He is definitely a hero and should be commended as such.

[Susan Callery]

I was on the border of Chatsworth Canoga Park yesterday with several co-workers and and encountered a huge swarm of bees. Where are these bees coming from?

[neoA]

The bees seemed rather selective to attack the dog, it seems as though the dog was targeted simply because it was overwhelmed to the point that it had to be carried further. Something tells me the dog walked across an underground hive, because they will swarm the nearest thing to the opening.

This happened with my aunt and brother, we walked across a underground nest and my brother was running with bees just covering him, he was lucky there was a small pond nearby, or else he'd probably be dead too :/