UPDATE: Popular Battle Creek path reopened after suspected bee nest
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Battle Creek has the okay to reopen a popular trail after a suspected bee nest prompted the shutdown in the area.
City officials at first thought it was an outbreak of bees, but as it turns out the insects involved were yellow jackets, which can be much more aggressive.
A quarter-mile portion of the Linear Park path that connects Wagner Drive to Bailey Park has been closed by city officials after a yellow jacket nest was discovered along the trial’s edge.
“There was no way to relocated them,” said Todd Gerber, City of Battle Creek Field Services. “They are not an insect that likes to be relocated, so we exterminated them.”
The city was first notified about the issue on Monday and crews came out to exterminate the yellow jackets on Thursday.
One person had been stung, no one was seriously hurt.
“I’m really glad they’re being proactive,” said Ashley Sparks.
Sparks and her family typically use the closed portion of the trail, considered one of the busiest parts of the 26 mile Linear Park path.
The closed path could reopen as soon as Friday. A popular playground sits nearby but the city says no yellow jackets or bees were found there.
Battle Creek’s Field Services Superintendent says crews will be back out on Friday to make one last check for yellow jackets before opening the path back up to the public.
