Loretta and Dave Yates and their young son Justin haven’t returned home, but the bees were removed during a five-hour period Monday.
The Yates family hadn’t realized the extent of the bee invasion until cracks appeared in the ceilings of the two rooms and honey began to drip onto the floors. On closer examination, they noticed a dome kitchen light fixture was also starting to fill with honey.
Beekeeper Dave Schuit and three helpers pulled down the ceilings in the kitchen and living room Monday, and successfully removed the two beehives and several honeycombs -- some filled with honey, others containing brood stock.
She estimates it will cost about $1,000 to replace each of the ceilings in the two rooms. While her husband can access $1,500 to pay for the removal of the bees and the cleanup and replacement of the ceilings, the total cost is expected to be more than double that.
Yates was shocked to learn that her household insurance policy doesn’t cover damage caused by bees.
'They call it insect damage -- an act of nature. I didn’t bring them here. I was really surprised by that,' she said."
Bees removed from Ontario house dripping honey
Don Crosby, QMI Agency