Being a property owner is no walk in the park. There are countless things that can go wrong and when it's your own place on the line, it's your job to fix them. Every house has something that needs to be repaired or upgraded. And let's not forget about the pests that often infest houses in dark places.

Now imagine for a moment that you find out something... something possibly harmful is living in the walls of your home. Not only that, but the house is practically abuzz with thousands of tiny organisms. What would you do? This is exactly what this family from Tennessee had to decide just by removing only a brick from their wall. Keep reading to find out...

The Walls Are Alive!

Right off the bat, we’ll spill that this humble household from Germantown, Tennessee, had a huge problem. A swarm of problems as a matter of fact (pun intended). Its walls provided shelter, not only to the family inside, but to thousands of tiny, flying critters. We’re talking about bees.

If a honeybee hive is healthy, especially during the summer, it can accommodate up to 20,000-50,000 bees. May to June is the peak season of laying eggs for the queen bee, giving birth to around 1,500 a day, which is more than its own body weight. It was already past those months when this family realized things were getting out of hand.

One Of The Homeowners Is Allergic To Bee Stings!

To make the already disastrous situation worse, one of the family members living in this house has a health-related aversion towards being stung by bees. Simply put, an allergy towards bee stings. Depending on the severity, this can be quite worrisome.

Anaphylaxis is the term used for these severe allergic reactions that can lead to a person’s collapse and death. An anaphylactic reaction to a bee sting can cause breathing problems within minutes to an hour. Victims could start to feel tense in their throats and have chest tightness as well, apart from feeling faint.

"We Were Here Before You"

The family from this tale had only recently discovered this huge problem, living behind the barriers of their home, when they took action. After all, there’s no such thing as an alarm system for intruder bees. However, the expert they called in, said the colony might have been living there for over two years already.

The entire hive is filled with white combs which are the newer ones, but it also has darker areas. The specialist further explained that the darker matter resulted in the thousands of tiny feet rambling across that area of the beehive, day in and day out.

All Was Quiet, But For A Faint Shuffle Behind The Bricks...

It was September when the Tennessee family began to notice odd noises coming from inside their walls. The sounds they were hearing were very similar to scratching noises. It was like something was moving within the wall of their kitchen, specifically.

Back then, they had no idea what they were dealing with. They probably thought that it was some kind of animal that was stuck in there, making all those rattling sounds since it needed some form of help to get out. Even then, that would have been extremely strange.

Could It Be The Usual Suspects...?

It’s not unusual for animals, especially tiny rodents such as rats and squirrels, to make their homes inside our house’s walls. Especially when the weather gets cold, they opt for spaces to make burrows out of for the winter. So, it’s understandable if the family thought that they were dealing with these kinds of creatures.

However, when the noises became louder and more intense, that’s when they began to take it more seriously. It was evident that this wasn’t going away on its own, like the flu going away without a trip to the doctor. Plus, it was September and the cold winter air hadn't approached as yet.

… Or Maybe Some Other Creepy Crawlies

Eventually, the entire family came to the conclusion that what was scuttling inside their wall must be a swarm of insects and not a single animal. That’s because, apart from the noise growing more persistent with each day that passed, they were quite certain that they were hearing a faint buzzing sound.

They began to consult the internet to find out how they could carry out bug extermination on their own. In the end, the family wound up making a DIY bug bomb. They deployed it in hopes that it would free them of their dilemma.

The Family Tried Bug Bombing And Failed

Launching the DIY bug bomb did not do anything to stop the noise emanating from their kitchen wall. In fact, every time they stood close to it, they could still hear the scratching and dull humming. Their homemade bug juice clearly didn’t work, so the family called for help.

They went ahead and gave in to their need to hire pest control services. However, even the local pest control company they called in to remove the critters, was no match for what was infesting the house. They tried, but they were unsuccessful.

Who You Gonna Call?

The family understood that what they were up against was no simple type of bug. They were made aware that the infestation was from bees. Their internal alarms must’ve gone off when they found out because as we’ve mentioned, one of the members is allergic to bee stings.

After finding out about the pest control expert named David Glover, they were sure he was the guy for this kind of job. His track record of solving issues exactly like their own was proven, working in the bee removal trade since 2009.

The Terminator Arrives With A Single Mission

David Glover is a hardened professional. It was obvious that he knew his job well, even just by the way he arrived at the Germantown home fully-equipped. As an expert, he was confident that he couldn't be shocked by what was inside that wall. He started suiting up and prepared all his impressive insect exterminating gadgets.

After preparing, David got right to work. He was quite certain that he had seen every single kind of bee infestation there was and that nothing could jolt him or catch him by surprise. Nonetheless, what he was about to see was an eye-opener, to say the least.

A "Weep Hole" Gave The Hive Away

David inspected the exterior wall of the Tennessee house's kitchen as soon as he got there. The wall looked like any other solid brick wall but David knew that it had to have a hole somewhere. How else would the bees get in, right? He soon discovered a "weep hole".

In the photo that David took, a black, vertical line can be seen on the wall, and aside from that, he also found one more tiny gap sandwiched between the kitchen window and the wall of bricks. This was what the critters had used as an entryway.

Time To Bust Out The Infrared Cam

David was equipped with the tools necessary for him to work properly and efficiently. So that he could learn about the exact size of the infestation that was present within the wall, he used a device called an infrared camera. The above photo is what he saw.

Using this gadget, he is able to receive a visual representation of the temperature coming from a given space. However, David was completely astonished by what showed up on the picture. That reaction tells us that what’s inside the wall had to be absolutely massive.

Bingo!

After an enormous red spot had revealed itself on the photo taken by his device, David was left totally convinced that it was the brooding area of the insects. At that point, it could no longer be denied that the creatures creating all the racket, was an entire hive of honeybees.

It might look like a trivial hive to you right now, but David knew that there was more honey and way more bees waiting to be unveiled behind those bricks. The exterminator got himself ready for his career’s most extensive pest removal job.

David First Went For Old School Tactics

After utilizing his high-tech infrared camera, the next device that David used was more of an old-school technological instrument. He decided to use smoke while working on the removal of the pests with nasty stingers that were living in the wall.

This also kept the bees from escaping up the wall when he reached for his next apparatus, the hammer drill. Also, we certainly can’t forget that he sprayed some natural insect repellent for safety purposes as well. Nobody can ever be too cautious when dealing with these kinds of pests!

It Was A Race Against Time Now

The insects had been dazed by the smoke, but that was only temporary. They would get their heads straight soon enough, so David had to get to work as soon as possible. He immediately widened the hole he found in the brick, giving himself a better look at the interior of the wall.

As soon as he removed the first brick, his notion of what was hiding beneath it was proven. David’s suspicion that he was about to tackle an entire colony of bees was right after all. His expertise and experience directed him to the correct hypothesis.

Brick By Brick The Infestation Was Exposed

David began removing layer after layer of the brick wall. He removed two whole rows within just a matter of minutes. With every brick he took out, he bared more of the intruding beehive. The tricky part was, this hive appeared to be never-ending. We can only imagine the anxiety this family felt as they looked on.

It got to a point where David was already beginning to wonder just how many more of these bricks he'd have to pry off the Tennessee home’s wall before he could actually see the entirety of the hive. Would there be anything left of the wall he was working on?

Behold, The Biggest Hive David Had Ever Encountered

Despite his worries, David continued to remove sections of the wall until he had already taken out five rows of brick. That's when he grasped just how huge this beehive was. Once the whole hive was uncovered though, he felt relieved that he was finally able to find its edges.

The honeycomb wasn't too attached to the bricks and it was one of the biggest single pieces of honeycomb he had ever laid his eyes on! He didn’t need eyeglasses to confirm what he was seeing. Excluding the tapered honeycombs in the middle top region of the beehive, it was actually two great flat combs.

Those Were Some Very Busy Bees

Because the beehive was enormous, its size made the kitchen window fixed above it look smaller than it actually is. It was evident that the bees in the wall were working hard at making their honey, storing it for forthcoming generations. It's astounding yet frightening to see.

If the family in the Tennesse home could sell the honey for money, they would’ve been wealthy by now.  They had been sharing their house with hundreds, or maybe even thousands, of tenants and they had no idea! It’s about time these bees got evicted.

The Colony Was Weeks Away From Doubling Its Size

Upon taking a closer look at the bustling and buzzing beehive, David observed that it enclosed more than the usual number of capped queen cells; thirteen to be exact. Each one with their own isolated virgin queen bee. This colony was not only extremely active, but it was also thriving!

It’s easy to say that if this beehive had been left on its own for a little more than a few weeks longer, it would double in size. These buzzers had established a home, and we're sure, they didn't plan on moving out any time soon. They desired to fill it with more of their kind.

The Home Made Bug Bomb Never Stood A Chance

As David continued to study the rest of the beehive as if it were a book, he spotted some lifeless bees huddled on the left flank of the colony. When the family launched their do-it-yourself bug bomb, a small number of the bees must have been caught in the toxic cloud.

The chemicals may have slain some of the worker drones, but that little homespun bug bomb wasn’t ever going to exterminate an entire bee swarm. It might have been where the first exterminator had tried to execute the colony, but the wax was able to prevent the pesticide from spreading.

The Terminator Stayed His Hand In Compassion

Despite the bees doing damage to the Tennesse family's home, David was educated enough to know that he shouldn't destroy the entire colony. Furthermore, it's not like anyone had been stung or the wall was irreparable. The most important thing is that the bees are gone!

It’s amazing how the bees had thrived within that kitchen wall and they should continue thriving, just not in someone else's house anymore. Before David came in for his intervention, he already had a plan. He intended to relocate the honeybees to a more suitable dwelling.

Something Was Odd About This Particular Honeycomb

After taking out a few pieces of honeycomb, David saw that a large section was built as a complicated mess of tunnels and curves. It seemed like the construction crew in this area of the beehive was on drugs, specifically acid, as he described. It was truly bizarre!

Clearly, the bees David was dealing with weren't like any other of its kind. Maybe researchers could study these structures and learn more about how these buzzers tick and answer the bigger question as well; how are they still thriving when other bees are vanishing?

Susprisingly, The Bees Went Down Without A Fight

Now, it’s easy for us to assume that this swarm of bees wouldn't take too good to a chap who’s dismantling their hive, but they were quite chill about what was happening. David did not report any bee stings, whatsoever, which was unusual.

Oddly enough, the honeybees cooperated with David, and a joyful cluster of them even hung around his shoulder, singing to him, as he finished his job. Those whose queen had just been taken away were the most curious out of the bunch, hovering all over the bee box that their queen was kept in.

Time To Go Little Ones

It was a slow and arduous process, removing the combs in the mid-section where everything was tunneled and interconnected. But eventually, the entire hive had been completely detached from within the kitchen wall. After that, David started cleaning up.

As you can probably tell, breaking open a brick wall to do away with a little over a few thousand bees is bound to create a big mess. A big hole was left in the interior of the abode, which now had to undergo restoration. Nonetheless, the colony was removed safely.

David Left A "Lifeboat" Behind For The Missing Bees

While he was busy tidying up the scene, David decided to put a box inside the hole that was left in the house. If any worker bees would go back to this spot, which is no longer their home, they’ll still be collected and saved.

These busy workers could have been off gathering pollen or it’s also possible that they may have been frightened away by all of the fuss. Once some of those bees return to David’s box, he could at least bring them on a trip straight to their new hive-site.

The Bees' Mark Would Forever Remain In The Wall

When David was done with his clean-up operation, he saw that the colony had also left a lasting imprint within the wall. With that, the Tennessee family will always remember the hive, even though given all the trouble they caused, we're not sure they'd want to.

Nevertheless, it's unlikely that they would forget. The impression was the tan area which was a result of the bees’ tiny, honeyed footprints. Just observing the large hole is still shocking. These bees had made a home in such a highly improbable location. Now, they were off to their new habitat.

The Homeless Bees Got Adopted!

David made sure to secure the beehive throughout his operation. Now, he just needs to find the bees a brand new space to safely call home. He chose to hand over the bees to several honey farms near the area. Through this route, the bees would be able to aid other colonies who have lost some of their members.

The bees will also be able to help beekeepers grow their honey production. How so? Well, they will aid in fertilizing a lot of new flowers. It’s a great thing that there are farms ready for bee adoption anytime! They'll have a home that they never have to run away from.

The Family Was Relieved That All Ended Well

The family was absolutely relieved that their dilemma had finally been solved. They could now go to bed in peace and enjoy their kitchen space without dreading what might be dwelling behind their wall. Knowing that there won’t be any more unwanted guests was a dream come true.

Even though one of their members was allergic to bee stings, they were still very happy that the hive was safely removed and that they were relocated to suitable habitats. Good thing, not one soul was stung by a bee while they were cohabitating!

David Is Now Known As The Bartlett Bee Whisperer

You might be curious as to why David Glover is so good at his job. Well, that’s because, as a seasoned professional, he does rescue and relocation jobs like this almost five to eight times per week! His portfolio and track record are admirable and he reportedly does an estimated number of 250 hive removals every year.

Bees inhabiting homes is a more common problem in the US than you may think. If you wish to contact David for his services, or just see the awesome work that he's done, head on over to his Facebook page, The Bartlett Bee Whisperer. Yes, that’s what he calls himself.

David Shared His Experience Online

Holy Huge Comb! This was what David titled the photo album that he shared on his Facebook account after working on this bee project. He even put a caption on it. According to what he wrote, he favors minimally intrusive tactics when working with bees from buildings.

David also publicized that he doesn't like drawing out bricks since there’s always the possibility of the mortar chipping out or the bricks crumbling. But as much as he dreaded the process of brick removal, his final view of the Tennessee hive was just awesome.

The Hive In The Wall Broke Facebook

David had no clue that his post would blow up after uploading it to his profile. As of this update, it has already garnered 40,000 comments, and 177,000 shares on the social media platform. And the numbers are just getting bigger day by day!

One of the people who left a comment was Debs Reardon, who commended David on his gentle process. There was also a comment made by Angel Sharpe, who was totally intrigued by the entire situation and the family's way of dealing with it. We must agree, this story was no like no other!

The Hottest Buzz On Bees

As we continue with the Tenessee family's story, we also want to share some important facts with you about the antagonists in this tale. All across the globe, bee populations are dying. According to new statistics released by the University of Maryland, American beekeepers have reported a loss of about 40.7% of their honeybee colonies from April 2018 to April 2019.

The conveyed losses, particularly from the winter season, were striking, as 2018’s winter colony loss hit an unprecedented feat. This data marks the persistence of a trend that has puzzled beekeepers and has alarmed farmers, who are relying on bees to pollinate their crops. It seems they are far more important than we realize.

The Honey Bees Are Dying Out

Even though they have received a bad reputation, as many folks are frightened of their powerful and painful sting, bees won't really bother anyone unless you bother them first. Plus, they’re an indispensable part of the Earth's ecosystem.

Humans are already abolishing their flowers in exchange for farmlands, buildings, and green lawns. So, we truly shouldn't sentence death towards bees that come across our homes. If you run into them, just dutifully guide them outside or call a professional like the Tennessee family did, if they’ve made a hive inside your home.

Climate Change Is Killing Them

By now, you might already have an awareness of the dreaded climate change. It’s inescapable, as it weaves through our everyday lives; from the weather conditions and sea levels to economics and global politics. It’s even linked to the food we eat and the clothes we wear. Sadly, it’s also affecting a few particular species as well.

Bees are one of those that are put in danger because of this drastic change, specifically because of habitat loss. A lot of species travel up north to adjust to the changing temperatures. However, bees are failing to migrate and establish new hives in cooler areas, so many of them are dying.

And Humans Are To Blame

Even though climate change is severely exacerbated by humankind, as some studies suggest there's another reason leading to the endangerment of bees that is directly related to humans. Pesticides called neonicotinoids are upsetting their nervous systems, leading this species to suffer infections.

The chemical structure of neonicotinoids is likened to nicotine and has been associated with the honeybee colony collapse disorder. The sad truth is, humans are unapologetically taking over. We build houses, companies, condominiums, restaurants, and more, leaving the bees with nowhere to call home. Have you ever thought about it from this perspective?

If They Go, We All Go

If we told you that bees are vital to our nutrition, would you believe us? We don’t mean that you should literally snack on a bee. What we’re trying to communicate is that they do a lot more for us humans than painfully sting us. Bees are significant not just to our food sources, but also to the economy and the environment. How so?

Bees fertilize crops, being the chief pollinators of many fruits and nuts. In turn, billions of dollars in value are added to crops in the United States every year. If these creatures went extinct, it’s possible that mankind would only remain alive for four years.

Obama Helped The Honeybees

David is really an inspiration for choosing to save this gigantic beehive. Instead of just exterminating the poor creatures for a paycheck, as most folks working in the same industry might have done, he chose to do the right thing. It’s like he was following in the footsteps of the likes of former U.S. President, Barrack Obama.

Obama had signed a memorandum that outlined a federal pollinator strategy in June 2014. That move led the Agriculture Department to give farmers and ranchers, from five different states, $8 million in incentives to create habitats where honeybees can thrive.

Even Morgan Freeman Wants To Keep Them Alive

Morgan Freeman, who’s famous for movies like Million Dollar Baby and The Shawshank Redemption, is also an ally of the bees. Freeman, now 82 years old, is a philanthropist and he made headlines when he transformed his 124-acre Mississippi ranch into a glorious bee sanctuary.

Like Obama, Freeman's venture into beekeeping also started in 2014, which was when he discussed his new sideline with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show. Freeman had learned all about beekeeping a few weeks before his guest appearance on the show, where he discussed his experience and the need to save bees for the environment.

What Can You Do To Help?

The animal rights advocate from Planet Earth named, David Attenborough, has shared that if you come across a tired bee in your house, you can help them out in a simple way. Mix two tablespoons of refined sugar with one tablespoon of water and leave it in your garden for the bee to reach.

By making this solution, you’ll be able to help rehydrate and revitalize any exhausted bee that you find! We don’t know if David has ever done this, but he’s saving an entire hive; one that held a lot more surprises than he would have expected.

A Man Quite Like The Bartlett Bee Whisperer

David Glover is a bee specialist, but there are also those who specialize in other kinds of pest extractions. An example we have for you is, Vern Lovic, a man who is an expert when it comes to snake removal. Vern is not scared of these slithery creatures, and he’s also a self-proclaimed snake enthusiast.

Vern has already dealt with many types of serpents throughout the years. He's come across tiny, harmless snakes, as well as, large, lethal ones. However, there’s one job he was given in another part of the world. One that truly tested his capabilities.

The Snake Expert Extraordinaire

Like David, Vern is the utmost best at his chosen profession. Years of experience in handling various kinds of potentially dangerous snakes had led him to help out a friend in need, who lived in Thailand. Vern’s comrade asked him to examine the snake issue he had at his home, and he did just that.

However, as soon as he arrived at the location, Vern came to understand that things were much worse than he expected. You have to realize that this wasn't like your usual rat extermination; he was dealing with snakes, for goodness sake!

His Tools Aren’t Quite As Fancy...

Vern wasted no time when he got to the troubled area. He quickly jumped into action and readied all the tools that he needed, although the ones he has aren't quite as complex as David's. He didn't possess devices like The Bartlett Bee Whisperer’s infrared camera or his smoke gun.

Vern only had a clear reinforced plastic bag and protracted metal tongs, which he uses to safely snatch and store the scaly snakes without dread of them escaping, or worse, biting him. Still, Vern had no clue that he was about to encounter the largest number of snakes he’s ever dealt with in his career.

...But He Used Them Against 56 Snakes In One Home!

Serpents like hiding in hard-to-reach places and Vern frequently catches them in small, obscure areas like vents, corners, and drawers. This time, he inspected every part of the house, using all his know-how and snake-finding senses to track down the intruders.

Shockingly enough, he found a jaw-dropping total of 56 monocled cobras burrowing inside his friend's home! Just be grateful that you’re not living in Thailand, and there's not a high probability of you being frightened by 56 snakes inhabiting your house. A snake bite is something you certainly want to avoid.

Subscribe To These Modern-Day Heroes On YouTube

If Vern’s mission intrigued you in any way, you might want to check out the full video of him searching his pal's house for snakes on his YouTube channel called Thailand Living. Just remember, if you ever experience a snake invasion, Vern is just one phone call away!

David Glover also has his own YouTube channel, which you can go ahead and support by subscribing. Just search The Bartlett Bee Whisperer David Glover on the video-sharing platform. It’s also where he posted the beehive extraction from Germantown, Tennessee, which now has around 649,000 views.