60,000 Bees Discovered Inside Westfield Home

When the Cabral family of Westfield decided to start a home construction project this summer, they thought it might be a good time to address what seemed like a minor bee issue.

"We had seen some swarming around the third floor last year and we'd called a beekeeper out but because the house was closed up, he couldn't find exactly where they were," homeowner Molly Cabral said.

But when the contractor opened up an exterior wall last week, the minor bee issue turned out to be something major. As many as 60,000 honey bees had taken up residence inside the Cabral's home.

"At first they thought there weren't that many," Cabral said. "Then they showed me a picture and thought there might be as many as 20,000."

It was at that early estimate, which continued to grow, that Cabral decided to pack up her young family and leave for the day.

"As that number went up, it was definitely little shocking," she said.  

But thanks to Westfield-based beekeeper Mickey Hegedus, the colony has found a new home. Using a special vacuum he created, the third generation beekeeper said he was able to safely remove the bees and their comb and resettle them in Roselle Park where someone else had been looking to start a bee colony.

"The bees look great and it was nice to be able to save them," Hegedus said. "This story gives a nice light to honey bees. I've gotten a few emails already because of this and hopefully, rather than calling an exterminator, people will call a beekeeper." 

For Hegedus, the job, rife with challenges, is a labor of love. 

"It's not easy," he said. "I'm 25 feet up in the air, on a ladder, trying to balance a vacuum in 90 degree weather, wearing three layers of clothing and getting stung," he said. "But I love doing it." 

The Cabrals, who never heard their uninvited house guests, are living in their home and except for a "few still flying around," have made it through the experience unscathed and unstung. 

"I'll feel better when no more are floating around," Cabral said. "It's definitely been a little crazy."