At 6:39 on the evening of May 17 Animal Control Officer Anthony McCall responded to James Madison Circle to assist with “a swarm of bees the size of a small child.”

The size of the swarm was approximately 3 feet tall and 2½ feet wide. A.C.O. McCall is a self-admitted “chicken” when it comes to bees. But because of his community knowledge and professional relationships, he knew that Nathan Thompson was a third generation beekeeper. Nathan is also the Interim Chief of the Aquia Harbour Police Department.

Nathan Thompson and his father Earl responded to the swarm in southern Stafford and began carefully to take the bees down and put them in beekeeper’s boxes. The Thompsons estimated that they relocated approximately 40,000 bees. Chief Thompson promised a jar of honey from these busy bees to the Stafford citizen who reported the disturbance.

We are happy to report A.C.O. McCall only got stung twice during the incident. We are even happier to report that due to his knowledge of additional community resources and relationships with other agencies he was able to quickly implement a viable rescue plan. Thank you, Nathan and Earl Thompson for quickly coming to the rescue of the neighbors near Thomas Jefferson Place!