Bee Hive Removed from East Austin Home

A bee hive that has been plaguing an East Austin homewowner for years was removed Friday morning.

The steady traffic of bees is all that can be seen of the hive that Lillian Johnson has lived with all her life.

"The house was paid off in '72 but my grandparents said when they bought the house, they bought the bees with them," says Johnson laughingly.

Johnson estimates the hive has been in the wall near her kitchen around 60 years and while she's not sure how many are behind the wall, she says she's seen them swarm more than enough.

"Oh honey, I don't know, but it's like a movie when they do come out."

She's been stung at least 20 times and doesn't want her 5-month-old son stung even once so Johnson been living with her best friend for the last three weeks since our recent stretch of 100 degree days has gotten the bees more active.

"I wanna come home and I have a 5-month-old now so it's seriously I don't want him to get bit."

Lilian has gotten estimates of $500 dollars or more to remove the bees; a price she couldn't afford until Walter Schumacher of Central Texas Bee Rescue stepped in to help. Since Johnson has a child under 2-years-old, he did the job Friday morning for $100.