Thousands of bees removed from Houston woman's walls

May 31 (UPI) -- A Houston woman beset by recurring bee problems over the course of 40 years in her home had 70,000 to 80,000 of the insects removed from inside her walls.

Maude Mack, 76, said she has had problems with bees periodically over the 40 years that she's lived in her house and has occasionally had professional help removing them, but they have always returned.

Mack said the problem has become so severe in recent years that her landscaper has started refusing to mow her lawn.

"I don't know what it is, but they've always kind of been around," Mack told KHOU-TV.

District K Houston City Council member Martha Castex-Tatum became involved in Mack's struggle and contacted the American Honey Bee Protection Agency, which dispatched expert Walter Schumacher to the home on Thursday.

Schumacher and his crew used smoke to keep the bees calm before going into the walls and removing their massive hive in sections.

"Feral honey bees are trying to exist alongside of us," Schumacher told KTRK-TV. "We go where they're unwanted and take them to places where they're wanted."

The crew removed 70,000-80,000 bees from Mack's home.

"I'm very happy and thrilled to know that I'm getting the bees out," Mack said.

Schumacher said the honey collected from inside Mack's walls will be sold at local stores, with the proceeds going toward honey bee relocation efforts.