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[Kaladin]

Washington (CNN)In an unusual sight on Capitol Hill Friday afternoon, beekeepers were called in to capture and remove about 15,000 honey bees that had swarmed around the main Senate entrance of the U.S. Capitol Building, frightening onlookers before landing in a tree.

Three volunteer beekeepers, including one who is a top congressional aide, worked carefully but without protective suits to capture the queen and her thousands of offspring.

The bees had been out of their nest in search of a new, larger home, according to Rachel Perry of Capitol Bee Care, an organization that works to protect honey bee colonies that, for a variety of reasons, are dying off in large numbers. Wearing just a scarf hanging over her head, Perry sat patiently beneath the tree luring the bees into a hole in a medium-sized cardboard box that was sealed with gaffers tape, gently nudging with a brush the last stragglers inside.

U.S. Capitol Police officers, one carrying a large automatic rifle that probably wasn't going to help him against the bees, cordoned off the area with yellow tape and kept passersby at bay. They gazed with amusement as the beekeepers did their daring work, a welcome distraction from their typical police duties. The beekeepers explained to the officers that no one risked getting stung because when bees leave their nests in search of another, they fill up with honey first, so they can survive the journey. Once packed with honey, they are unlikely to sting.

Lawmakers from both sides of the Capitol had left Washington after their last votes Thursday so they were not around when the bees arrived. Their absence meant that Cynthia Martin, a lawyer who is chief of staff to Rep. John Conyers, D-Michigan, was able to run over to the Senate side after getting word of the swarm.

Martin, who described herself as a honeybee hobbyist, hugged the other two beekeepers after loading the box of bees into her car.

"Thank you so much for your help," she said. "My first swarm that I actually captured!"

Before pulling away, Martin said, "The only thing that is scary is when you're driving and a bee gets loose." She said she would bring them to her house to join another nest she already cares for in her backyard.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/19/polit...?sr=fb062015capitolhillhoneybees933aStoryLink

That's some heavy artillery for a swarm of bees.

 

[aygomyownroad]

Bees?

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

GOP's not on board.

 

[Who]

Oprah.gif

 

[Nivash]

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/19/polit...?sr=fb062015capitolhillhoneybees933aStoryLink

That's some heavy artillery for a swarm of bees.

Could be Africanized bees. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Duress]

Bees?

beads

 

[kurahador]

Oprah announcing her running for presidency.

 

[Nosgotham]

I LOvE when bees swarm my house. The most beautiful flowers bloom like crazy. You step outside and all you hear is bzzzzzz

 

[Reizo Ryuu]

Good luck hitting bees with that rifle.

 

[Zaptruder]

What the fuck is the thought process of the guy carrying around a huge machine gun when bees are the problem?

What? Crowd control? People might run out of the building in a panic? I might be able to hit some bees with this machine gun?

Is that a real picture, or just an out of context image of some police man holding a giant machine gun and smiling?

 

[Rhomega Beta]

Punishment for not legislating bills to keep colonies from dying or something.

 

[Cow Mengde]

More bees the better.

or just an out of context image of some police man holding a giant machine gun and smiling?

This is America.

 

[arab]

beads

 

[Askherserenity]

What the fuck is the thought process of the guy carrying around a huge machine gun when bees are the problem?

What? Crowd control? People might run out of the building in a panic? I might be able to hit some bees with this machine gun?

Is that a real picture, or just an out of context image of some police man holding a giant machine gun and smiling?

It's the US. I thought everyone just walked around like that here.

 

[Kaladin]

What the fuck is the thought process of the guy carrying around a huge machine gun when bees are the problem?

What? Crowd control? People might run out of the building in a panic? I might be able to hit some bees with this machine gun?

Is that a real picture, or just an out of context image of some police man holding a giant machine gun and smiling?

It's real....I assume the lady in the back is the woman that took the bees home. The riffle is probably standard for White House patrols.

 

[Link]

Bees?

GOP's not on board.

So perfect.

 

[jokkir]

Oprah.gif

Oprah announcing her running for presidency.

 

[Nivash]

What the fuck is the thought process of the guy carrying around a huge machine gun when bees are the problem?

What? Crowd control? People might run out of the building in a panic? I might be able to hit some bees with this machine gun?

Is that a real picture, or just an out of context image of some police man holding a giant machine gun and smiling?

Jokes aside he looks like Capitol Police. They're pretty heavily armed by default because they're the first line of defense if there's an attack.

 

[420bits]

Haha, bees are awesome!

 

[R2D4]

What the fuck is the thought process of the guy carrying around a huge machine gun when bees are the problem?

What? Crowd control? People might run out of the building in a panic? I might be able to hit some bees with this machine gun?

Is that a real picture, or just an out of context image of some police man holding a giant machine gun and smiling?

He's Capital Security. Oh no a security guard for the US Capital carrying a rifle. The horror.

 

[RageWaffles]

Jokes aside he looks like Capitol Police. They're pretty heavily armed by default because they're the first line of defense if there's an attack.

Yep, they're always armed like that. It's always a bit unnerving being in a crowded metro station when there's a bunch of them standing around with their huge guns.

 

[adj_noun]

Call in the SWAT team.

 

[terrisus]

Could be Africanized bees. Better safe than sorry.

From Kenya?

Call in the SWAT team.

SWAT those bees good.

 

[CheesecakeRecipe]

Puttin the work in.

 

[Ithil]

A shortage of bonnets will be announced tomorrow.

 

[Kaladin]

Oprah announcing her running for presidency.

But whose side is she on?

 

[Admiral Woofington]

Puttin the work in.

FUCK YOU I CAME HERE TO POST THIS

 

[Rivitur]

Sweetbabyjesus

 

[TimorousPanda]

GOP's not on board.

Oh my goodness. Amazing.

 

[the chris]

What's this? A capitol building dangerously underpopulated by bees?

 

[MMaRsu]

 

[mclem]

Before pulling away, Martin said, "The only thing that is scary is when you're driving and a bee gets loose."

Actual re-enactment:

 

[Moozo]

They don't allow you to have bees in there

 

[Nivash]

From Kenya?

Kenya's got Lions, and I know you can see Tigers only in Kenya. That's where the Giraffes are, and the Zeebra.

The song didn't mention bees though. But forget Norway.

 

[Orbis Tabula]

GOP's not on board.

Hahaha, too good.

 

[wenis]

They were protesting to save their lives. This is the only way to get noticed so their species survives.

 

[double jump]

U.S. Capitol Police officers, one carrying a large automatic rifle that probably wasn't going to help him against the bees

The

U.S. Capitol Police officers, one carrying a large automatic rifle that probably wasn't going to help him against the bees

fuck ?

Could be Africanized bees. Better safe than sorry.

Oh. XD

fake edit: I see post 18.

 

[WedgeX]

Had no idea this was going on. Would've walked over and gawked for a bit.

 

[a secret-boss]

Actual re-enactment:

i miss far side

 

[Y2Kev]

Well that explains McConnell's face AMIRITE

 

[FyreWulff]

They were probably following the scent of all the WASPs.

 

[Valkerionseven]

An assault rifle to fight some bees.... Ok.

 

[Soul Beat]

I see the plan is going well.

 

[gatling]

I remember thinking someone left a black shirt hanging over a tree in my parents house and went to look at it. As I got closer it was moving and buzzing and yep, a giant swam of bees were just clumped together in migration. Called a sweet old man doing this service for free (yay bee bucks) that came and told some jolly stories while collecting them in what looked like giant bee tupperware. Seemed to really love his work. Gave him a tea while he talked about bees for about an hour.

 

[soundscream]

 

[John Kowalski]

Could be Africanized bees. Better safe than sorry.

That's Black American bees sir.

 

[JCizzle]

He's Capital Security. Oh no a security guard for the US Capital carrying a rifle. The horror.

Yeah, that's kind of where I'm at. We're really upset that we have hardcore people guarding one of the most sensitive locations on earth?

 

[Enron]

What the fuck is the thought process of the guy carrying around a huge machine gun when bees are the problem?

What? Crowd control? People might run out of the building in a panic? I might be able to hit some bees with this machine gun?

Is that a real picture, or just an out of context image of some police man holding a giant machine gun and smiling?

You realize this guy is US Capitol police, as in the guys who protect the halls of government. That's why they are heavily armed.

 

[Kaladin]

My emphasis on the rifle was meant as a joke, as I'm sure CNN's was as well.

 

[R2D4]

An assault rifle to fight some bees.... Ok.

You realize Capital security carry rifles? They also cordon off areas with the bees. The rifle is not to fight the bees. Don't live your life by knee jerk reactions.