Authored by Rodney Southern in Nature and Wildlife
Published on 03-20-2009
Preventing a bee sting before it happens is a high priority for a great many people in the world. Some people are highly allergic to bee stings, and can even die from a single encounter. A bee sting is something that most of us have experienced at some point in our lives. Most people have gone barefoot in the summer and stepped on that bumblebee we did not see. Fortunately, there are a number of precautions that we can take to prevent bee stings before they happen in the future.
One way to prevent a bee sting before it happens is to wear light colored clothing. The bright colors seem to attract bees and wasps of all kinds, and it can even excite them. Leather should be avoided at all costs, as this is irritating to many species of bees and wasps. Why that is, nobody seems to know.
Another key is to skip the barefoot in the grass routine. Many people love the feel of grass under their bare feet during the summer, but the risk of bee sting is tripled at the very least. If you are wearing no shoes, you are eventually going to get a bee sting. Period.
Be mindful of your home and yard. Many people could avoid a bee sting simply by checking the yard regularly. Bee colonies, nests, and various burrows are all potentially dangerous. It is much easier to avoid bees and bee stings if you know where they are and how to avoid them. Yellowjackets in particular can sneak up on you. They build their nest in a hole in the ground, or in a tree hole, and you usually never see them coming. Keep a good watch out for these potential nesting problems.
Pay very close attention while you are doing yard work with any type of loud tools. Lawn mowers, weed trimmers, chainsaws and the like are sure to stir up any bees that are nearby. If you have a nest nearby, you could be in real danger from bee stings. Pay attention to everything around you when you are doing these chores.
When you are going to work or play in the yard, make sure that you do not wear anything that is strong in scent. This includes hairspray, cologne, perfume, fragrant deodorant, and any other type of sweet smelling scents. Bees are attracted to these types of smells, as any woman with tons of hairspray on at a picnic will attest to. Leave that stuff at home and go all natural when outside.
Preventing bee stings before they happen is rather easy if you are careful and use common sense. Walking barefoot through a meadow of flowers might be romantic, but it is still going to sting you eventually. Use your common sense, and you should be able to prevent the vast majority of bee stings in the future.
