A Texas woman recovering from a fractured spine was attacked by a swarm of Africanised honeybees at a storage facility in Rockport on 15 August. Rachel Kelly-McKee was reportedly stung more than 300 times after her German Shepherd, Chelsea, may have disturbed the bees, highlighting the potential danger when defensive colonies are disturbed.

Kelly-McKee said she was overwhelmed by bees after entering the facility and was unable to leave immediately because an automatic gate required a moving car to open. The owner opened it remotely, while Deputy Will Newsom and the Lamar Volunteer Fire Department responded; Newsom used a hose to remove bees before she received medical attention. Africanised honeybees are generally more defensive than European honeybees and can pursue perceived threats for up to a quarter of a mile, according to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.