A longstanding bee issue is finally being addressed for a Galveston County man, one week after he reached out to KHOU 11 for help.
For over three decades, bees have slowly overtaken Mr. Jimmy Johnson’s home. Thanks to the nonprofit The Bee and Me, those bees are now being evicted.
Decades of Bee Infestation
Jimmy Johnson has been living with bees in his home for nearly 35 years. Colonies have taken up residence in the walls of his home, making life difficult for him. At nearly 70 years old, Johnson has had little luck finding help.
“They look it over and say it’s too big of a job for them and they say they couldn’t handle it and they take off,” Johnson said.
After the issue was highlighted on KHOU 11, Carlos Hernandez from The Bee and Me, a nonprofit dedicated to bee education and safe removal, stepped in to assist.
Bee Removal in Progress
On Monday, Hernandez began the process of removing the three bee colonies that had settled on the outside walls of Johnson’s home. The hives are being carefully removed, with the bees being smoked out and relocated.
While one of the colonies is already gone, Hernandez plans to continue with the rest, hoping the spray used will mask the bees’ scent and prevent them from returning.
Johnson expressed his relief, saying, “I am glad, and I am happy. Get them bees up out of here.”
New Challenges with the Home’s Condition
While the bees will eventually be removed, the aging wood of Johnson’s nearly 100-year-old home presents another problem. The wooden siding, saturated with honey over the years, is too damaged to be reinstalled. “You can’t put a nail in it to put it back up,” Johnson said, referring to the now-useless material.
Hope for a Long-Term Solution
Despite the challenges, Johnson remains hopeful for a resolution. He is grateful for the help he’s receiving and is optimistic about the future. “I’m very hopeful to see the work going on. I’m very hopeful. I’m glad and I’m happy that these people are trying to help me out,” Johnson said.
