It’s not altogether uncommon to hear about haunted houses, especially in some of the suburban neighborhoods across the United States. In Germantown in Tennessee, this idea was taken to the next level when one set of homeowners in the area started hearing weird noises from their humble abode. As they later came to discover, the bizarre noises were not exactly what they had imagined they would be.
Family Is Frightened By Strange Sounds In Their New Home
What was strange about this particular instance, was that the noises being heard from the house were not always the same. Impossible to trace, these sounds came at different frequencies, increasing over time. It was clear that a professional would need to be called in to help, and once this happened, the family were about to change their lives in a way they could never have predicted.
A Typical Suburban Home
In this story, the home in question was fairly similar to others in the community. Located in an affluent area, the family were after a sense of belonging and camaraderie when they decided to buy the property.
A Typical Suburban Home
In the first few months, they couldn’t have imagined that they would soon be in a tussle for peace and quiet in what was seemingly a picture perfect home. Soon after they arrived, strange noises coming from the walls left them unsettled.
Creaks and Other Noises
As with any property that was built ages ago, it wasn’t altogether uncommon to hear creaks and other sounds as you moved between rooms. The difference here was that the sounds changed, and were often unidentifiable.
Creaks And Other Noises
While the sounds did leave the couple with many questions, as a whole they were very happy to be there. They were told by neighbors that as some of the houses were so old, it wasn’t uncommon for new tenants to refurbish them after moving in.
The First Time
At the start, the sounds could be heard a little bit in an unpredictable pattern. Each person heard it individually, often dismissing it right away for this very fact, as there was nobody else around to corroborate what had happened.
The First Time
In no time at all, the family started hearing the sounds more frequently, and while they were together. This would be a game-changer, indicating that something odd was happening here.
The Source of the Sound
At first, the family tried to track down the source of the sound, which seemed to be coming from the foundation of the house. Not your typical sound (like the creaking of wooden doors), the noises made everyone somewhat anxious.
The Source Of The Sound
The family took their time to locate and follow the sound, struggling to pin it down. They searched carefully, even looking to the plumbing as a possible source of the noise. There were dead ends at every turn.
The Noise Becomes Regular
While at first the sounds were infrequent, as time wore on, it became more regular throughout the day. This meant that the family couldn’t ignore it anymore, and were not hellbent on getting to the bottom of the mystery.
The Noise Becomes Regular
While they were irritated by the noise, they were also worried that it was perhaps related to something damaging the structure of the property. An interesting theory emerged, which they explore at first.
Rats or Mice
Was it possible that vermin were living in the roof or the walls? It made sense that they would look for a warm place to nest. The problem was that usually these make a pretty common sound, which wasn’t the case here.
Rats Or Mice
The sheer consistency of the noise also indicated that it would have to be an army of rodents. Although they were skeptical, the family decided that it would be worth checking out, especially as they would need to move if it was the case.
Giving The Specialists a Call
Not long after, exterminators were called in to have a look. They explored all over the house, keeping an eye on some of the possible spots that could be where the sound was originating from.
Giving The Specialists A Call
Even though they couldn’t be sure that it was vermin, the company sprayed the key areas as a precaution. Even though the family couldn’t have total peace of mind, if it was the case, the noise would hopefully be stopping soon.
The Noise Carries On
To the disappointment of the family, it was hardly a couple of minutes before the noises carried on. In fact, the spray hadn’t had any impact on the noises at all. At this point, frustration levels escalated.
The Noise Carries On
From great frustration comes great inspiration, and soon the family had more ideas about what they could explore to try and solve the problem. They hoped to have an answer about exactly what was going on soon.
A Haunted House?
As the pesticide would have taken care of any rats or mice in the walls, the family started exploring a less popular theory that the house might actually be haunted. Was this ridiculous considering the bizarre noises?
A Haunted House
While neighbors thought them to be extreme by doing so, the family was running out of ideas as to what could actually be happening. Worse yet, the problem left them with limited options to try and solve the issue to begin with.
Fear and Danger
As with any haunted building, there is a natural element of fear and danger to consider. The family wondered about whether they were in trouble at all, and everyone was more on edge from that point forward.
Fear And Danger
Everybody knew that the pesticide should have resolved the problem, especially if the issue had something to do with creatures living in the foundation of the house. This made it more likely that there were paranormal forces at play here.
Turning To The Internet
Next, they turned to Google to see if others had experienced similar problems. This was a desperate attempt to find out that they were not alone in wondering about the weird noises they were hearing regularly.
Turning To The Internet
The search led them to online forums where many others discussed strange noises in their houses, some of which could be resolved with DIY hacks, and others that needed a little more spiritual intervention.
No Single Solution
Even among an online community of people who set out to solve these kinds of problems, a majority of responders were stumped by what this family was experiencing. It was also hard for the family to explain the noises they were hearing in writing.
No Single Solution
Proactive as ever, the family decided to sit and wait for the noise. Armed with pens and scrap pieces of paper, they were all going to listen and start describing what they heard, in order to help the forum members think about possible solutions.
Wretched and Loud
The next time it happened, the noise seemed to have amplified. It reminded them of something a large animal would make. The sound reverberated right through the house. This frightened everyone in the house.
Wretched And Loud
Was it possible that the sound was coming from something otherworldly? All that mattered was that the family needed to figure it out quickly, as it was becoming somewhat unbearable to listen to the sound time and time again.
A Slight Murmur
As the noise went on, it turned into somewhat of a murmur. Was this a language they were listening to? The fact remained that this was a peculiar situation, that was seemingly turning into something more sinister and frightening over time. As a collective, the family decided to head out into the garden to brainstorm ideas of what it could be from as far away from the noise as possible. The sound could still be heard from outside, but the frequency was lower.
A Slight Murmur
One of the family members noticed a small bee crawling into a crevice on the side of the house. Was it possible that there was a beehive in the foundation of their home? It was unlikely that a small number of bees could generate this kind of sound on their own.
Listen Carefully
While outside, the family paid close attention to the noise and attempted to describe it to the best of their abilities in order to give multiple accounts to the users of the online forum they were posting on.
Listen Carefully
Everyone was hopeful that with enough descriptions, multiple hypotheses could be discovered. One thing stuck out at this point, however. If it was a hive of bees, wouldn’t they have been killed by the pesticides sprayed by the exterminators?
Calling The Beekeeper Anyway
Reservations aside, it was important for the family to get some answers from an expert in case they did have a large hive on their hands. After an online search, they found beekeeper David Glover, and reached out to him right away.
Calling The Beekeeper Anyway
It was never their intention to hurt the bees, and if they were in the foundation of the house, the intention would be for them to be relocated. Was David the man to solve the problem for them once and for all?
Turning To The Experts
When homeowners around the United States discover a hive in their houses, many turn to exterminators to solve the problem. Few people know just how important bees are to the survival of our (and other) species on earth.
Turning To The Experts
A better solution is reaching out to a beekeeper like David, who will be able to relocate the bees to a safer area. This is the responsible choice, as bee counts are already facing strain and possible extinction in the coming decades.
Turning a Bad Situation Around
As you can imagine, relocating a hive alongside its queen bee can be a very risky job, and is not encouraged for anybody who doesn’t have professional experience in dealing with bees.
Turning A Bad Situation Around
David takes care of the bees he rescues. He relocates them to a safe location, where the bees are given refuge. He sells the honey they produce, and also uses the venom from their stingers to aid human trials and other therapies that require this.
A Lot of Fuss
At the time of calling in the expert, the family had only seen one bee crawl into a landing space, so they couldn’t be sure that there was actually a hive lurking beneath their walls. They hoped that David would be able to tell them if this was likely.
A Lot Of Fuss
When David heard their story, he agreed to do a site visit to inspect the area for a possible hive. He urged them not to assume anything, and told them that he would do his best to help get to the bottom of this peculiar case.
The Beekeeper’s Duties
The family mentioned to David that the noise sounded somewhat like a loud droning, which gave him hope that he might discover a collection of nests. Naturally, there were safety precautions to be taken before going in.
The Beekeepers Duties
Aside from personal safety, the family also wondered whether the house was suffering damage from a large hive nesting in the foundation. This wasn’t David’s first rodeo, and he had solutions for anything he might face.
Reducing Stress For The Family
From the tone of their call, David realized that the family was at their wit’s end with the situation, desperate for answers. He arranged for an investigation into their house as soon as it was possible to do so.
Reducing Stress For The Family
One thing remained clear. David was prepared to face absolutely anything, so he ensured he was dressed in the right safety equipment before heading towards the house, in case something sinister lurked beneath the walls.
Technology To The Rescue
Most beekeepers use thermal imaging to test the area they are hoping to explore before having to actually venture into a potential nest. This interesting piece of equipment is designed to detect heat sources.
Technology To The Rescue
This is exactly what David used when inspecting this particular home. He captured a few shots which had surprising results. The family would soon have more information about what was causing the bizarre news in their home.
Heat Signals
Showing the family the pictures he took, it was obvious that there was something strange at play in this particular house. Sources of heat will show up red after the pictures have been taken, and strangely, large sections of wall lit up in the process.
Heat Signals
One thing that hadn’t been spotted before was a small ventilation hole, which showed up for the first time in the thermal images. This was a standard for many houses, as a result of humid weather conditions. Was this the entry point for whatever lurked in the walls?
The Expert Reveals His Findings
After studying more images, David had no doubt that the problem was bee related. The tricky part would be finding a way to enter and remove the infestation, as the foundation of the house had been built in a slightly unusual way.
The Expert Reveals His Findings
David was happy to do whatever it took to help out the owners to be rid of their unexpected guests. While he initially didn’t know how to go about it, he soon brainstormed a few ideas and came up with a master plan to solve their problem. Technology played a large role in discovering what was hidden behind the wall. He knew right away that he was dealing with a bee infestation after seeing the splatters of red on the pictures he took in his investigation.
More Than They Bargained For
After discovering the number of bees in the wall, the family was stunned. Even David was shocked by the large amount he was dealing with. He knew that neither family, nor the bees, were safe where they were located.
More Than They Bargained For
After discovering the number of bees in the wall, the family was stunned. Even David was shocked by the large amount he was dealing with. He knew that neither family, nor the bees, were safe where they were located.
Starting The Removal Process
The bad news was that in order to remove the hive, David was going to need to break down some of the existing structures of the house to gain full access. He talked to them about this, so they understood this was the only way to remove the bees safely.
Starting The Removal Process
Exhausted from not having any peace over the weeks leading up to the removal, the family was all too happy for David to remove the bees. They were even alright with the repair bill that was to follow right after.
Rising To The Challenge
This was no ordinary project. David had to rise to the challenge of locating and moving a large swarm of bees without harming them, or any of the people in the vicinity. It was clear that he had a tough job on his hands.
Rising To The Challenge
Two elements were counting against him: the sheer size of the hive, and the brick foundation of the house. This would mean that David was up against it like he had never been before. Could he pull it off?
A Bump in the Road
The problem with brick was that it tended to fragment a lot when it was broken down, which often resulted in some of the bees being hurt in removals. Naturally, the noisy machines also disturbed the bees, and the hive would often try to retaliate.
A Bump In The Road
David warned the family that they may have a harder job on their hands because of the fact that it was a brick house. He would do his best to move the bees safely, while causing the family as little disturbance as possible in the process.
Bringing Down The Wall
Although it was challenging to remove the first few bricks, once a couple had been loosened he had a clearer view of what he was dealing with. The space between the brick and concrete was minute, so the worry was that a lot of bees were going to die from the extraction.
Bringing Down The Wall
Thankfully, after looking through the whole left by cleared bricks, David noticed that the entire hive was still intact. He was relieved that none of the bees had been harmed by the process so far.
Concrete Evidence
Finally, the family had the evidence they needed that the noise they were hearing was coming from a swarm of bees. Everyone was happy to know exactly what they were dealing with, especially as there were suspicions that it may have been something supernatural.
Concrete Evidence
Astonishingly, even the hole that had been created from removing a few bricks was starting to fill up with bees. David deduced that this hive contained thousands of bees, which would make his job a little harder than usual.
Agitated Bees
Some of the bees had been disturbed by the removal of the brick, and soon David found himself surrounded by a handful. He knew this was a potentially dangerous situation right away.
Agitated Bees
After seeing the hive in full force, he realized it would take some time to remove enough bricks to be able to safely move the hive. He let the family know that they should brace themselves for a slow process.
The Biggest Job Ever
Although he had decades of bee removal experience, this was certainly going to be the biggest hive that David had ever encountered. As it stood, he had no idea just how big it actually was, and was in for a shock.
The Biggest Job Ever
Initially, the family thought only a small portion of the wall would have to be scaled, in order to gain safe access to the hive. After seeing the extensive bricks he had to remove, they decided to get in touch with a builder who could later help with fixing the wall.
As Safely as Possible
David removed one brick at a time, ensuring that he wasn’t disturbing the hive and potentially causing a safety problem for people in the neighborhood. This task was going to require an alternative approach to just brute force.
As Safely As Possible
Safety wasn’t the only thing on his mind, as he removed each brick. He wanted to cause the least amount of damage, ensuring that the family who lived in the house wouldn’t be put out financially in the process too.
The Extra Discovery
After a couple of hours of removing bricks, David noticed that the total surface area covered didn’t include the entire hive. He had underestimated the area he would need to cover to be able to extract the whole thing.
The Extra Discovery
As he worked tirelessly, the bees droned on, with their sound getting louder and louder as he kept working around them. It had become clear that they weren’t happy with the intrusion, even though the work was far from done.
Peeling Back The Layers
After getting rid of five lines of bricks, seven thin honeycombs had been discovered. This showed exactly how the bees had begun building their hive right at the beginning and gave a sense of the total scope of the hive.
Peeling Back The Layers
David was not about to endanger the hive whatsoever. He worked carefully and meticulously, somewhat anxious under the watchful eye of the family, who realized that this was a very sensitive project.
Exponential Numbers
As he was removing more bricks, David realized that the total amount of bees living inside the foundation of the house was an exponentially large number. He was thankful that he had been asked to relocate these special creatures, who were trapped somewhere unsafe for them.
Exponential Numbers
A thought that crossed his mind as he worked was whether he had the equipment to successfully transport this amount of bees in one go. Usually, he dealt with small and medium-sized hives. This was the Titanic of all beehives.
There’s a First Time For Everything
They say that life is full of surprises. David could hardly have imagined that he would ever work on a hive extraction of this scope and size. His years of experience counted in his favor, and he was grateful to be a part of something as monumental as this.
Theres A First Time For Everything
A key factor in the successful extraction of bees is how good the keeper is at remaining calm in spite of agitated bees around them. Thankfully, this process is made a lot easier by the protective equipment used in the process.
The Beekeepers Uniform
Any beekeeper worth their salt has no reason to be afraid of being stung by the bees. This is not because they are confident or arrogant, but because of the protective uniform worn during any extraction.
The Beekeepers Uniform
In spite of being state of the art, there are times when bees slip into the uniform. Over time, David has built up immunity to bee venom, and he doesn’t feel stings as much as the average person would. The more you get stung, the more tolerant you are over time.
Building on David’s Shoulder
In the hours it took to work through the hive, David eventually had an unexpected set of visitors on his shoulders. Some of the hive had taken up residence on his right shoulder. Talk about making the most of a stressful situation!
Building On Davids Shoulder
David didn’t mind much when this happened. He says he feels calm around the buzzing, and often finds that the noise they make sounds a little like a symphony. Perhaps he was better suited to be living in the house than the family who hated the sound they made.
Striking Up a Friendship
Bees are such special creatures to David, that he not only sees them as his “friends” during an extraction but goes as far as to use his social media profiles to share more information about their interesting creatures too.
Striking Up A Friendship
He tells people that without bees, pollination isn’t possible and plans would be unable to survive. This means that over 30% of the world’s food sources would be ruined. Who would have thought they were that important?
The Fully Exposed Hive
Hours after beginning the extraction, David and the family eventually had a clear picture of the magnitude of the full hive. Everyone was flabbergasted by what they were seeing, dunning it the “Holy Huge Honeycomb” after it was revealed.
The Fully Exposed Hive
People who followed David on social media were shocked by the sheer size of the honeycomb and many users commented that they were happy to hear that the bees would soon be relocated to a more appropriate location.
No Gain Without Pain
Although most of the hive had survived unscathed from the brick extraction, everyone made a sad discovery too. A group of bees had been killed by the spray used by the exterminators.
No Gain Without Pain
Noting that beeswax had protected a majority of the hive, some of the bees had not been so lucky. David was thrilled that the majority had survived the assault.
Death of the Queen
Although only a handful of bees didn’t survive the spray, unfortunately, the queen bee met her demise in the process. Tasked with keeping the hive organized, the hive would now be unable to survive without its commander in chief.
Death Of The Queen
While this was a setback, David didn’t want to give up on the entire process. He knew that if they were relocated, they had a better chance of surviving and thriving in an environment where they could serve a new leader.
Retribution From The Hive
What usually happens when a hive loses its queen bee, is that it becomes destructive and agitated. Strangely, this particular hive had not gone that route, and showed only mild a lot of aggression towards the beekeeper.
Retribution From The Hive
Some of those might even argue that these inhabitants were very “ok” with being rescued from a hive where they had lost their queen. If anyone could handle a group of mourning bees, it was David.
The Exceptional Hive
Traditional hives are made up of a series of smaller honeycombs that form the greater whole. In this particular case, this hive consisted of two larger than usual honeycombs, referred to by David as “giant” ones.
The Exceptional Hive
Being exposed to such an unusual hive gave David the opportunity to study something unique in nature. He was fascinated by what they had achieved, and looked curiously for other features unique to this particular hive.
A Humongous Hive
Having studied bees for decades, David knew that this hive would be the biggest one he ever encountered in his life. After sharing it on his social media accounts, other bee fanatics agreed that it was a once in a lifetime find.
A Humongous Hive
This hive contained thousands of bees, and the most important task was ensuring that they all get relocated safely from the home. David did countless calculations to make sure he didn’t make any mistakes that day.
The Grand Total
One of the more important calculations of the day estimated that there were anywhere from 35 000 to 40 000 bees in this particular hive. Knowing just how many there were here, he knew the stakes were high for a safe transfer.
The Grand Total
The key to a successful transfer is capturing the hive as a collective. Typically, these bees would stay close to their hives, so it might have proved difficult to get all of them in one swoop. Luckily, he had some special equipment in tow.
The Method Used To Capture Bees
Bees will follow their hive wherever it goes. As soon as a portion of the honeycomb is removed, the bees tend to come with, as they like staying with their own kind. In this way, bees are captured more easily than you might think.
The Method Used To Capture Bees
Who would have thought that by using a common household item, the process of capturing the bees could be easier? Not all equipment has to be high tech, as long as it gets the job done, and doesn’t harm the bees in any way.
The Vacuum Experience
For the bees that don’t follow the honeycomb, David uses a vacuum cleaner to round them up. An empty, clean vacuum cleaner is the perfect tool to help get any stragglers safely into a single space without hurting them in the process.
The Vacuum Experience
Some experts even argue that bees are much safer inside the machine than they would be outside. This is particularly true if you consider that the bees left behind when the hive is relocated will likely die shortly after.
“They Tried To Make Me Go To Rehab”
The fact remains that bees cannot just be moved to a new hive with the hopes that they will adjust on their own. They need time and guidance to establish themselves and fall in line with their new environment.
They Tried To Make Me Go To Rehab
As you can imagine this situation, this story grabbed headlines online and even local news channels around the country wanted to get in on the action after hearing about what he was doing.
Sharing Advice For Relocation
As the story spread online, David was contacted by other bee experts who shared extra advice for helping bees to recover after losing their queen. All the added knowledge meant that they had a greater opportunity for long term survival.
Sharing Advice For Relocation
The first thing David did was to introduce this group of bees to vertical hives. This meant he could become their official beekeeper, ensuring they survive, and providing him with ample honey that he could sell to further his research efforts.
Finding a New Queen
Few people are aware that in order for bees to make honey, they need to have a queen. David’s plan was to move one of his own queens into the new hive, to test if they would follow her after everything they had been through.
Finding A New Queen
This was a make or break moment. If the hive rejected the new queen, they were likely to die off. If they accepted her, the chances of them flourishing were far higher. Everyone waited anxiously to find out what would happen.
The First Meeting
The first few seconds of the new queen entering into a hive are crucial. David watched on as the other bees flew near her, taking a good look before making their decision about whether to follow her or not.
The First Meeting
It looked like she might be rejected, and David worried that the hive would kill her, leaving him a queen short across all his hives. He held his breath as he waited to see whether they would accept her or not.
A Decision is Reached
In no time at all, the new bees started showing signs of submission towards their new queen. They had taken a liking to her, and the next step was for them to be comfortable enough to start laying eggs, so the hive could survive into the future.
A Decision Is Reached
In no time at all, David spotted eggs in the honeycomb. This was a celebratory moment. He was so happy with what had happened, that he let the family in their “old home” know that they were going to be alright.
The Next Generation
Once the eggs hatch, larvae eat pollen and honey until they are fully grown. This is why the hive is so important. A queen bee directs this process, and makes sure that the next generation of bees are welcomed into the world.
The Next Generation
The process requires a collective effort from the entire hive. Everyone works together to ensure that the hive continues to thrive, and the queen rests wherever possible for her to do so.
A Kink In The Process
After some time had passed, David noticed that the hive stopped thriving under the new queen. He wondered whether they had perhaps changed their minds about their leader. Luckily, in no time at all, everything returned to normal.
A Kink In The Process
Online followers kept a watchful eye on this amazing story over the course of the coming years, with David sharing updates from time to time. The adaptability and resilience of this hive was inspirational to people from all over the world.
Honey Aplenty
At the start of this relocation, David could not have imagined how many bees he was going to be dealing with, and how much honey they would be producing for him in the years to follow the fateful day he arrived at the house.
Honey Aplenty
This honey was sold, and the proceeds are used to help him continue his research, as well as take care of this incredible hive, and others. Some of the people who had followed the story even bought some of the honey produced by the colony!
The Unexpected Phenomenon
Honey is usually a brownish, yellow color. As it turns out, pollen actually comes in many colors, which can ultimately affect the color of the honey. With this particular hive, the honeycomb looks like rainbow jewels, which is another unique development in this story.
The Unexpected Phenomenon
Naturally, David has taken time to record and share this phenomenon, publishing pictures for his followers and other bee enthusiasts to enjoy. This project has come full circle, and one family, in particular, can sleep a little more easily at night as a result too.
The Fairytale Ending
Six months after the story first broke, David let his followers know that the hive was going strong. He said they enjoy being around their new queen bee, and they keep her particularly close, having gone through a loss previously.
The Fairytale Ending
Not only that, but the homeowners who first “lived” with the bees expressed their happiness at hearing that the bees were doing well. They too had been able to move on with their lives, and were grateful for the opportunity to be a part of one of the most special and unique bee rescue stories in history.