A North Carolina toddler who had been hearing strange noises coming from the wall near her closet for eight months finally discovered the cause – a beehive weighing more than 100 pounds. The little girl’s mother, Ashley Class, called in beekeeper Curtis Collins after finding bees in the attic of her century-old farmhouse. Using a thermal camera, Collins located the hive and began extraction efforts, which took place in three waves over several days. The hive, which housed over 50,000 bees, was twice the size of any other hive Collins had removed before.
During the removal process, Collins worked to save the swarm of bees and keep the hive intact. Class documented the situation on TikTok, where her videos garnered over 9 million views. The videos showed dead bees on the ground, honey oozing from the ceiling, and other damages to the home. While Class is grateful that the bees were saved, she is facing an estimated cost of over $20,000 in damages that insurance won’t cover. She is eager to have the bees evicted from her home once the extraction process is complete.
The discovery of the massive beehive in the toddler’s room came as a shock to Class, who initially believed the noises were caused by a monster in the wall. Using thermal imaging, Collins was able to pinpoint the location of the hive right next to the girl’s closet, making it light up like Christmas. The experience was described as apocalyptic by Class, with bees flying out of the hive during the extraction process. The hive was a significant size compared to others Collins had encountered, adding to the challenges of the removal.
While the bee removal efforts were successful in saving the swarm, Class is left to deal with the aftermath of the damages caused to her home. In addition to the cost of repairs, she also faced the fear and uncertainty of having such a large beehive in her house for an extended period of time. The ordeal has left her daughter with a new appreciation for beekeeper Collins, who she now admires for his role in removing the bees from their home. Despite the challenges faced, the family is grateful that no one was harmed during the discovery and removal of the hive.
The experience of finding a massive beehive in the toddler’s room serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing unusual noises or sightings in the home promptly. In this case, what was initially thought to be a monster turned out to be a large beehive, highlighting the need for professional assistance in handling such situations. The incident also sheds light on the vital role of beekeepers in preserving bee populations and maintaining the delicate balance of ecosystems. Through documenting and sharing their experience online, Class hopes to raise awareness about the importance of bee conservation and the potential hazards of having bees nesting in homes.
