Surviving bees continue to buzz after a honeybee killing in front of Haley Devine's home.

, with the city of Hillsboro defending its actions after it failed to notify the property owner beforehand.

Over the Labor Day weekend, Devine came home to find part of her sidewalk barricaded and a pile of dead honeybees near a beloved hive in front of her house.

"They turned black and crusty," Devine said.

Devine, 28, grew up in the house at Northeast Sixth Avenue and Jackson Street. In front, a big elm tree became home to a beehive, which has visible honeycombs.

The city of Hillsboro sprayed the hive Aug. 29, killing bees without explanation to Devine until days later on Sept. 4. It's unclear how many were killed but some survivors can still be seen buzzing around the tree.

Devine says the city overreached its authority, but Hillsboro officials said they did it as a public safety measure because what they believed to be yellowjackets presented a danger. They also said the tree is in the public right of way.

Colony Collapse Disorder

Nationwide, researchers have been studying something called

, a mysterious phenomenon that has lead to the disappearance of about 30 percent of managed honeybee colonies every year since 2006. It’s a problem for beekeepers who rely on the bees to pollinate $18 billion worth of crops in America, according to bee expert, Ramesh Sagili.

City spokeswoman Barbara Simon said the public works department received a call last week about yellowjackets at Devine's elm tree. She said "experienced workers" found what they believed to be yellow jackets and, as a public safety measure, used over-the-counter spray to kill them.

During the spraying, a frantic neighbor demanded the workers to stop and told them it was a honeybee hive, according to the city and Devine. The workers eventually stopped spraying once they realized there were honeybees, Simon said.

Simon said workers erected a barricade because the bees became agitated by the spraying. Simon said the city did not intend to kill or remove the honeybees or the honeybee hive.

Swarming is a natural phenomenon for honeybees, according to

and assistant professor at Oregon State University.

"I have never seen swarming bees to be a threat to the public," he said.

The bee expert also said anyone with experience with bees would know yellowjackets do not swarm.

"If someone has experience (with bees), you can't miss the difference between yellowjackets and the honeybee," he said.

Simon said the swarm found that day was so thick, the crew had to wear bee suits. She also said they did find yellowjackets and the crew has dealt with removing yellowjacket nests before.

Devine said she is skeptical about the city's response because she said she has never seen a yellowjacket there before.

"Killing honeybees for safety is kind of a lame excuse," Devine said.

Although the area is within the public right of way, Simon said, city code requires that Devine maintain the tree. Devine has also said city workers told her it was her tree.

The hive has been there for at least three years. Devine said she was not aware of anyone having been stung there and her brother has done yard work in the area without any problems. Community members use it to teach their kids about bees and their contributions to the ecosystem, she said.

The barricade with yellow caution tape and a warning: "Caution: Bees Ahead" was set up by city workers and taken down by neighbors, Simon said. The barricade included the tree and the sidewalk in a 25-foot-long area. It was removed as of Friday.

"I wish somebody had talked to me," Devine said. "If there's one complaint and a thousand compliments -- they acted on a single complaint and did not ask people, especially the people who own the property."

In the days after the spraying, Devine and neighbors grew concerned that the hive would be exterminated. Neighbors immediately started posting things to the elm tree to save the hive.

"We love bees. We need bees," reads one message.

"Shame on you, city of Hillsboro!" reads another.

Shaun Starr lives in the neighborhood and called the city response "panicked." He's one of several who have demanded an answer from the city.

"All the neighbors know of it and see the bees as good neighbors pollinating our garden flowers. Many take a walk to check on the bees, and some neighbors take their children to see the bees," Starr said.

Devine said the city has not apologized for the incident.

Simon said it was not a mistake for the city to spray because it was a public safety issue in the public right of way.

"I just want people to know the difference between honey bees and yellowjackets so things like this don't happen again," Devine said.

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