Summerlin Woman and Dog Survive Terrifying Bee Swarm Attack at Cottonwood Canyon Park

A morning walk at Cottonwood Canyon Park turned into a terrifying ordeal for one Summerlin woman and her dog last week.

 

Anne Wayman and her 25-pound dog, Alfie, were wrapping up their walk when a swarm of aggressive bees attacked without warning.

 

"We were on our way back, about a quarter mile from our car when the attack happened," Wayman said.

 

A Quarter Mile Chase

 

What started as a peaceful morning quickly became a fight for survival.

 

"Alfie started to scream and cry. I looked over and he was literally covered with bees," Wayman recounted. "The bees then started to attack me. They were trying to get up under my hat and my head and my face."

 

Wayman sprinted up the park stairs with the swarm in pursuit - and they didn't let up.

 

"It was probably a quarter of a mile that they chased us all the way up these stairs and into my car," she said.

 

Once inside the vehicle, two bees followed them in. With no other options, Wayman grabbed the mace she carries on walks and sprayed it inside the car to stop them.

 

The Damage Done

 

Alfie suffered 20 bee stings. Wayman was stung eight times on her head and neck.

 

Alfie's condition was serious enough that he had to return to the emergency vet. Because of his small size, the stings posed a far greater risk to him than to Wayman.

 

"It only takes a few stings per pound, and he, being only 25 pounds, was a lot more vulnerable," Wayman said. He was given a painkiller injection and placed on steroids to recover.

 

Africanized Bees Suspected

 

Wayman believes the insects were Africanized bees - also known as "killer bees" - because regular honeybees don't typically swarm and chase with that level of aggression.

 

Her concern goes beyond her own experience. She worried about what could have happened to someone less mobile.

 

"I kept thinking of if this was a child or an elderly person and they couldn't move like I could move," she said. "I had a real concern for those individuals."

 

What the Summerlin Council Says

 

The Summerlin Council, which oversees major parks in the community, released a statement following the incident.

 

The council said it uses strategically placed traps, routine park inspections, and a defined response protocol whenever a hive is identified - including securing the area, posting signage, and coordinating appropriate next steps.

 

Wayman wishes warning signs had been posted before the attack and has a simple message for fellow Summerlin residents heading out to the trails.

 

"Just take care of yourself, take care of your pets because they could be gone at any time," she said. "I'm very lucky."

 

If you encounter an aggressive bee swarm, run in a straight line, get indoors or into a vehicle as quickly as possible, and do not swat at the bees - it increases aggression.