A swarm of more than 25,000 bees took control of a hot dog stand in Times Square on Tuesday afternoon.
The tourist hotspot in the Big Apple was shut down for an hour as the NYPD used vacuums to remove the critters from the vendor at at the corner of Broadway and West 43rd Street
Pedestrians could be seen swatting at the bees as they tried to avoid getting stung.
25,000 bees stationed themselves atop a Sabrett hot dog stand in Times Square in New York City on Tuesday
Pedestrians could be seen swatting at the bees as they tried to avoid getting stung
NYPD’s bee keeper Officer Michael Lauriano could be seen sporting protective gear as he made his way to collect the bees.
Wearing netting across his face, the NYPD’s ‘Bee Guy’ climbed on a ladder and vacuumed the bees in a matter of minutes.
‘We try to get as many as we can,’ Lauriano explained to the New York Post. ‘We like to keep the families together.’
The officer could not specify where exactly the bees would be taken, but did assert that they would be ‘definitely in a hive.’
NYPD closed the street at Broadway and West 43rd Street for an hour
Officer Michael Lauriano could be seen sporting protective gear as he made his way to collect the bees, using a vacuum to collect them
According to @NYPDBees, the department’s official Twitter account, the bees stopped by just so they could get a quick drink before finding a more permanent home.
‘Please Bee advised, @NYPDTimesSquare is safe again from our buzzing comrades,’ the account stated.
‘It’s a hot and humid day and our buzzing friends just stopped by the hotdog vendor for a refreshing drink and to take a quick break before moving on to a new home.
The account speculated that the number of bees buzzing around the blue and yellow tent was well around 25,000.
According to @NYPDBees, the department’s official Twitter account, the bees stopped by just so they could get a quick drink before finding a more permanent home
The account speculated that the number of bees buzzing around the blue and yellow tent was well around 25k
‘About 25k were relocated after getting notified from our great crowd in Times Square,’ the account said.
‘Over crowded hive on a very humid day caused them to take temporary residence while scout bees are out finding a new permanent residence.’
The bee puns kept flying in from the NYPD, with the Time Square precinct emphasizing that this wasn’t the first time that a bee swarm invaded the area.
As the police responded to the scene, NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill emphasized that they were collecting the bees ‘humanely’
They said: ‘Bee-lieve it or not another swarm of (bees) has made its way to #TimesSquare! I guess the bees love the unbeelievable sights here!’
As the police responded to the scene, NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill emphasized that they were collecting the bees ‘humanely.’
‘Fear not, New Yorkers and tourists. Midtown Manhattan is all abuzz about #NYPD’s ability to bee a full-service organization,’ he said.
‘Right now, we’re humanely, & safely, handling the @NYPDBees swarm in @NYPDTimesSquare. Just another day in #NYC,’
The tent following the removals of the bees