Neighbors on Lambert Street say the bees have taken up residence beneath a parking space, creating a buzz that has lasted for weeks. Thom Duffy captured video of the swarm gathering around a neighbor's car.
"It was literally looked like a thousand bees swarming her car," Duffy said.
The colony has been living in the sewer for the past three to four weeks, prompting neighbors to block off the parking spot to keep people away.
"So we have taken up a parking spot," Duffy Said. "I put a planter there and signs."
After contacting the city without much success, residents turned to beekeeper Mark Berman of Anna Bees Honey.
Berman said the situation is unusual.
"It is kinda weird," he said.
Berman said he has not seen a colony living in a sewer before, and that removing the bees poses challenges. Lifting the sewer cover could trigger aggressive behavior, he said.
"If they lift that cover, there would be a frenzy, and the bees could be aggressive," Berman said.
Instead of opening the sewer, Berman installed a device designed to coax the bees out on their own. He said the setup makes it hard for bees to return to the sewer, eventually forcing them to relocate.
"It's extremely difficult for them to reenter that funnel. Without the food sources coming in, the queen slows down her egg laying. The bees will come out and take up residence in the trap box," Berman said.
Once the bees move into the trap, Berman plans to remove them and harvest what some have dubbed "sewer honey."
The process could take weeks, meaning neighbors may need to wait for the buzz to die down.
"He'll give him a home and harvest the honey, and things will get back to normal on Lambert Street," Duffy said.
Berman believes the colony could include more than 10,000 bees. After the bees are trapped, he plans to return with some of the honey for the neighbors, who may soon have a memorable story and a sweet reward from Lambert Street.