Paramedics rushed several members of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fire crew to a local hospital after being attacked by bees.
It all happened on a 450-acre wildlife refuge off Tio Cano and Kansas City Roads around 10:30 a.m. Friday.
The crew were creating a fire break on refuge land when their equipment hit a tire with a bee hive inside.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service spokeswoman Jennifer Owen-White said the bees swarm and stung five of the six-man work crew.
The crew had to abandon their vehicle and were taken to the La Feria Volunteer Fire Department building where ambulances were waiting.
Owen-White said four of the injured fire crew members were released.
Although the fifth man had over 200 stings, Owen-White said he's expected to recover.
Work on the refuge is expected to resume after firefighters remove the bees from the property.
Owen-White said officials plan to burn cattails, which have overgrown and choked an area they want to use for wetlands.
Areas of the refuge not covered in cattails and that till have water are popular for storks, spoonbills, ducks, egrets and other water-loving birds.
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