Bees Sting Employees In Bergen County Town, Sending 1 To Hospital; Police Give Update

PARAMUS, NJ — Paramus police asked residents to stay in their homes Thursday afternoon after a swarm of bees began stinging people near Howland Avenue.

Three Paramus parks employees were stung and one had to be treated at the hospital, said Chief Robert Guidetti.

He said that at 10:55 a.m. on July 25, police headed to the area of Howland Avenue and Village Circle, where three Paramus Shade Tree employees had been trimming trees.

One employee suffered severe stings, the chief said. Two others were "stung moderately." The one with severe stings was taken to Valley Hospital for treatment and released.

The area was a block from Van Saun Park.

Paramus police closed Howland Avenue for a time and dispatched a beekeeper to the scene, the chief said.

Giudetti said, "The Bee Keeper arrived and accessed the situation determining if the bees are left alone they will return to the nest in the trunk of the tree ... The bees returned to the hive and the scene was cleared."

Just before noon, police sent a message to residents and posted it on social media: "A large swarm of bees reported in the area of Howland Ave and Village Cr. Residents are urged to stay inside."

One resident said there have been bee problems before.

"Almost every [year] for more then 15 years my friend would call about honey bee swarm on Filipe Ct in Paramus," wrote the commenter on social media.

So where will the bees "be" next? Follow photographer Boyd Loving's photos here.