[dropcap]K[/dropcap]yle business owner and apiarist Gordon Wybo doesn’t hear the sounds of bees humming so much lately.

A wetter spring has meant a smaller local bee population. Colonies aren’t expanding until later in the season, due to the lack of fresh pollen, and so his bee removal business has gone down as well.

“Last year, by now I had already done about 22 to 25 removals,” Wybo said. “This year I’ve only done 11 removals.”

Even so, Wybo said public awareness is increasing about why people should take measures ensuring that not only are people, but also bees, are out of danger.

Wybo said, for the most part, bees are docile insects, but can be provoked to aggression by loud noises, strong vibrations and perceived danger to their hive.

“Many bees are not aggressive and would only go after a person if they got in the bees’ way while collecting pollen,” Wybo said.

Wybo said wild bees, if not in a problematic location for people, should just be avoided. He said those who may see a large hive should call a professional to assess whether or not the bees can be moved safely.

“Bad bees are the ones that make the news, but not all bees are bad,” Wybo said.

Wybo attributes the increase in reports about bees to the greater awareness people have regarding the importance of bees.

“The fact that we’re seeing more bees and hearing about more bees means people are becoming aware of the importance of bees,” Wybo said. “It used to be a person would just go to the store and buy a can of Raid to douse them with, killing them. Now people try to have them removed and relocated.”

Bee Myth or Fact with Gordon Wybo:

Myth or Fact? Bees are attracted to floral smelling perfume.
Fact: Yes they are.They are attracted to scented sun block and mosquito repellent. Wybo said, “If you smell like a flower they’re going to be attracted to you.”

Myth or Fact:?Swatting at bees makes them fly away.
Myth: Normally bees only sting humans when a person walks in the bees’ flight path toward the pollen:rich flowers but if a person stops to swat at the bee, the bees pheromones turn from docile to attack.

Myth or Fact? A swarm of bees are aggressive and are more likely to attack people nearby.
Myth: When there is a swarm of bees it generally means they are in between hives and searching for a new home for their queen. They surround her in a giant, living ball of bees to protect her so a person could walk in the midst of a swarm covered in honey and the bees would never notice.

Myth or Fact? Two out of 3 bites of food in the U.S. are a result of bees.
Fact: Bees spread pollen across the ground on their way to and from flowers back to their hives which pollinates the plants and trees and makes them continue to grow. We in turn benefit from the bountiful produce.

Myth or Fact? Honey is the only insect-provided product consumed in the U.S.
Fact: Bees make honey from pollen by turning it into nectar which then becomes honey that they can live on while they are confined to the hive and can’t collect fresh pollen.

Myth or Fact? If you see bees or hear them around you, start screaming really loud and run away while swatting furiously at them.
Myth: If you hear bees in your immediate vicinity, stay calm and quietly walk the other way. They don’t like swatting or loud noises such as screaming which could cause the bees to release an attack pheromone so when you panic, you’re doing the wrong thing.

Myth or Fact? Bees are on the endangered species list.
Fact: A species of bee in Hawaii was recently put on the endangered species list this year, and Wybo said for them to make it to the endangered species list is “pretty scary.” “(Bees are) the canary in the coal mine,” Wybo said. “If something happens to them, then something happens to us.”