The Del Rio Post

DEL RIO, Texas — Three Del Rio police officers were stung multiple times on Saturday, Oct. 24, while rescuing a man who was attacked by bees during yard work on West Garza Street, according to the Del Rio Police Department.

Police said the man was using a weed eater when he unknowingly disturbed a beehive. Officers who responded helped move him to safety as the bees continued to sting. The man, who had multiple stings, was taken to the hospital for treatment, the department said. Police did not release his name or condition, or the condition of the officers.

Garza Street was temporarily closed between Arteaga and Broadbent streets while emergency crews dealt with the hazard.

Del Rio Fire Department personnel set up a safety perimeter, located the hive and “took action to eliminate the bee hazard,” according to the department. Police said the work helped protect nearby residents, passing drivers and responders at the scene.

“Emergency calls can take many forms, and this one brought an unexpected danger to both the man needing help and the officers assisting him,” the department said in its post.

The street has since reopened, and police thanked residents for their patience during the closure.

Public reaction

The department’s Facebook post drew a range of responses. Some commenters asked why a beekeeper or bee-removal service was not called to relocate the hive, and one commenter wrote that bees are important for pollination. Others said the active attack on a person and on officers left responders little time and that removing the hazard quickly was necessary. A statewide bee-removal association also commented, offering its members’ services. The department has not said publicly whether a beekeeper was considered.

Safety tips

Bee colonies can hide in walls, sheds, trees and thick brush, and the noise and vibration of mowers and weed eaters can set them off, The Maverick Times reported. Residents who find a hive near their home are advised to keep their distance and contact a professional beekeeper or pest-control company. Anyone being attacked should get indoors or into a vehicle and call 911.

Sources

• Del Rio Police Department Facebook post, “Police and Fire Respond to Bee Attack,” Oct. 24, 2026
• The 830 Times, “Del Rio man attacked by bees; PD, FD respond” (DRPD press release)
• KENS 5, “Three Del Rio officers stung while rescuing man attacked by bees”
• News 4 San Antonio
• The Maverick Times

Photo: Image released by the Del Rio Police Department with its Oct. 24 post (illustrative; not from the scene).