Colony Of 15,000 Bees Removed From North Side Building

Two beekeepers had the tedious job Friday of removing a colony of honeybees from a North Side building.

The colony is estimated at 15,000 bees.

Channel 11 reporter Lori Houy got to see firsthand what 15,000 bees look like. She and photographer Tony Phelan put on bee suits and checked them out.

The building, at the corner of Wilson Avenue and Burgess Street, now sits empty, but at one time the M.A. Lucas Grocery Store and apartments were inside.

Colony Of 15,000 Bees Removed From North Side Building

According to beekeeper Stephen Rapasky, the Urban Redevelopment Authority owns the building and hired the beekeepers to safely remove and relocate the honey bees.

It looked like a scary job, but Rapasky said it's not so bad.

"Honeybees are a true bee. They are very docile unless you disturb them like we are today. They only sting in defense," said Rapasky. "If you know what you're doing, it's not a dangerous job at all."

The beekeepers said the bees were relocated to a bee yard in either Homewood or Dormont.

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