The SAPD’s Animal Services Section was called to the home of Linnea Chapman, in the 2200 block of North Olive Street, in the West Floral Park Neighborhood Association, at about 1:30 p.m. with a report that three dogs were dead and might have been killed by bees, Cpl. Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department said, as reported by KTLA News.

A bee specialist determined that the bee hive was in a shed in an adjoining property.  The dogs were riled up by a pool cleaner and the noise they made prompted the bee attack.

The dogs were apparently placed behind their home, in the yard, because of work being done in the front yard.

The owner of the house hired someone to remove the hive.  She said she and her husband don’t have children and the dogs, Bartlett, Bailey, and Remy, were like family, according to NBC News.

This attack by the bees was not how normal honeybees behave.  It is likely that the culprits were Africanized bees.

Africanized honey bees, nicknamed “killer bees” in the media, were documented in Orange County in March of 1999. All honey bees which are unmanaged or feral (living in the wild), could display “Africanized” traits due to hybridization with Africanized honey bees. The highly publicized northward migration of the Africanized honey bee has caused all of Southern California and much of the Southwestern United States to be declared home to Africanized Bees. Over a decade has passed since Africanized honey bees were first reported in the United States. Beekeepers, scientists, pest control operators and government agencies have been educating residents about this issue for a number of years, according to Orange County Public Works.

For information on the removal of problem bees, contact a private pest control specialist

• Pest Control Operators of California (PCOC) bee removal list
• University of California, Riverside – Department of Entomology – Insect Information – Africanized Bees in California