Stings of misfortune: Horse succumbs to bee attack

[MT204]

Interesting story from our area.
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_d3331ffe-bcdb-11e1-84f0-0019bb2963f4.html
Interesting to read some of the comments to the article.

[Kathyp]

don't think there's any reports of AHB that far north?  wish they'd had a better picture.

[Vance G]

This is not good Public relations, but honeybees can and do kill horses.  Some are sensitive to bee stings.  Just like with people, most are not sensitive.

[Nature Coast Beek]

Local beek says they're ABSOLUTELY not honeybees and pest management guys says they're honeybee (AHB or EHB). Again, another story where all the facts aren't know other than the emotional state of the parties involved and the demise of a precious animal. In other words, sensationalism takes the day. Wish they would have included a picture of the INSECTS that were collected and credited with the attack.

[Kathyp]

This is not good Public relations, but honeybees can and do kill horses.

true....but horse rubs on tree and knocks down swarm that attacks him OR horse rubs on tree and knocks down wasp nest that attacks him.

absent AHB...and there is no report of the people being attacked when she grabbed the horse/cleared the insects....the wasp/hornet seems more likely.