PHOTOS: 15,000 Bees Invade Popular Hudson Valley City

There was a buzz this week in the Hudson Valley, and it took both first responders and local wildlife experts to keep residents safe from the unexpected swarm.

To many New Yorkers, one bee is too many, but on April 30th, an estimated 15,000 of the state's most famous pollinator descended on Kingston, NY in one of the most bizarre spots imaginable.

15,000 Bees in Kingston, NY

"When they say you never know what you're going to be responding to when the alarm bells go off, they mean it", the City of Kingston fire department joked on Facebook. They reported that roughly 15,000 bees swarmed near the intersection of Liberty Street and Broadway, leading authorities to block off the area. There might be a very specific reason why the bees arrived when they did.

Bee Season in the Hudson Valley, NY

It is officially bee season in the Hudson Valley. While it's a well-known fact that wild bees and other insects help with the pollination of local plants, some New York business specifically import bees at this time of year to help jumpstart the process. Dressel Farms in New Paltz, NY, for example, rent bee boxes from local specialists to help their orchards (below).

Honey Bee Swarms in New York State

Whether the swarm of bees in Kingston, NY were visiting from a local farm or just on a scenic trip through the Hudson Valley remains to be seen. Luckily, the bees were removed safely by a professional and relocated to a more insect-friendly area.

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Honey bee swarms are also a common occurrence this time of year as growing bee colonies search for new places to live. Temporary swarms like the one in Kingston, NY could have been an instance of the swarm resting as they make their journey towards a more suitable area. Check out some of the best local honey bee products below.