So, Times Square tourists, how far would you go for a hot dog? Would you brave a literal swarm of thousands of bees to satisfy your craving? That was the predicament at a hot dog stand recently, where a massive hive turned the scene into something straight out of a nightmare.
Just the other day, I was at the grocery store trying to load my trunk with a few cases of sparkling water (yes, I know it’s excessive), and a single bee buzzing around was enough to send me into a mild panic. Now, imagine the courage required to confront a stand swarming with around 40,000 bees! No, thank you.
Authorities had to block off several streets around this unfortunate Sabrett hot dog stand located at the corner of Broadway and West 43rd Street—also known as “Nope Street.” And to add to the insanity, I discovered that the NYPD has an entire unit dedicated to handling bees. Where’s the Wasp Task Force, though?
In the footage, we see Officer Mark Thompson, one of the NYPD’s beekeepers, managing the situation. According to reports, the NYPD has two official beekeepers, and Officer Sarah Williams explained that the swarm was due to overcrowding in the hive from the summer heat. They needed to find a cooler place, which led them to the hot dog stand. While she referred to it as an “absconded hive,” I call it a scene that I would definitely avoid.
While I completely understand the desire to escape the summer heat, dear bees, that hot dog stand is off-limits for you! Stick to the flowers, please, and spare me the embarrassment of flailing around at my child’s softball game.
Officer Thompson carefully vacuumed the bees, transferring them to a hive box for transport to an apiary on Long Island. Unfortunately for the bees, they won’t be producing honey this season, but with their recent feast of hot dogs, they should survive the winter just fine.
Surprisingly, Officer Williams shared that they were taken aback by the viral attention the incident received, as swarms like this happen more often than you’d think. They had even dealt with a similar situation just a few months prior that didn’t garner nearly as much buzz.
For now, the NYPD assures us that Times Square is clear of bees, allowing New Yorkers and tourists alike to enjoy the area without the fear of an unexpected hive.
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In conclusion, while a swarm of bees at a hot dog stand may feel like a scene from a horror movie, the NYPD has it under control. So, enjoy your time in Times Square—just maybe skip the hot dogs for a while.