x
Breaking News
More () »

Chopping Down What All the Buzz is About

DURYEA — It’s the tree that’s got people in Duryea buzzing. For Leona Brensha, it’s nostalgic. “It was an adult tree when I was a ...

DURYEA -- It's the tree that's got people in Duryea buzzing. For Leona Brensha, it's nostalgic.

"It was an adult tree when I was a child, and we would play by the tree," said Leona Brensha of Duryea.

For Stephanie Roscioli, It's frightening.

"We have a two-year-old little boy who can't play back there because I'm allergic, my husband's allergic, and I don't want to know if my son is," said Roscioli of Duryea.

With the tree's proximity to a utility pole, PPL said it's dangerous. Why? Crews are swarming the tree that's usually swarming with bees. Inside this tree is one big, buzzy beehive.

"In order to survive through the winter, there's between 10 and 20 thousand worker bees, all girls and one queen," said Bill Fisher, of the Pennsylvania Backyard Beekeepers Association.

Just to give you an idea of the size of this beehive, this tree itself is about 35 to 40 feet tall and the markings where that beehive is six feet.

The tree belongs to Leona Brensha, but she's moving, she thought this would be the best time to cut it down and save the bees.

"The environment needs these bees so desperately because if we don't have bees, we don't have food," said Brensha.

The beehive will be saved and shipped off to Harrisburg, where a beekeeping association will pick the best spot to place them.

As the estimated 60 to 70-year-old tree comes down, and the six to eight foot long hive sent to Harrisburg, neighbors are glad to get rid of the buzz.

"It is a problem. But I'm glad they're being saved, but I'm glad they're gone," said Riscioli.

Before You Leave, Check This Out