As Bee Populations Dwindle Some South Florida Families Have Hives

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Bee populations are dwindling across the country but, imagine finding a massive beehive inside a bush right outside your door.

That's what happened to a CBS4 photojournalist who called a professional and like any journalist, grabbed his camera to record the thousands of honeybees.

CLICK HERE To Watch Rhiannon Ally's Report 

It's nature at work. Watching honeybees furiously move in their hive. But, it's not something you want to see right outside your house.

Three weeks ago one family in Southwest Miami-Dade noticed a small hive in their bush.

They called Willie Sklaroff, a Bee Removal Specialist, known as "Willie the Beeman"but he wasn't initially worried.

He offered the following advice, "Go ahead and wait because most of the time when the swarm comes in,  they leave and find a new home."

But this colony decided to stay and grow. Now 3,000 bees call it home. That amount can be dangerous for people and pets who live nearby.

"These bees are not aggressive, but they could become aggressive at any time," said Sklaroff.

A federal survey found more than 40% of honeybee colonies have died since last summer across the country.

That's why removal specialists, like Sklaroff, try to remove and then relocate the bees. Unfortunately, that was not possible this time.

"For me to save these bees would be impossible because  of the way they built the hive around the birds nest," said Sklaroff.

He said destroying the hive and then removing it is the only option. He says always call a professional and do not try to remove it yourself.