Upper West Sider Chris Anderson was attacked by a swarm of wasps while walking his dog Jack in Riverside Park last Saturday. The aerial assault took place at West 101st Street near Riverside Drive.
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Anderson, a nearby resident and regular Riverside Park walker, told us he suffered ten stings from the incident. His wife Joanna came back to the site later to post warning signs around the area.
Before Anderson’s incident, volunteers from the Riverside Park Conservancy had placed yellow cones and tape around a large tree in the area, along with a “Caution: WASPS” sign.
But Anderson tells us his stingy encounter occurred roughly 10 or 15 yards away from the sign, and warns fellow park goers to be careful because there are wasps all around this area.
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Anderson’s wife Joanna has posted several signs along the trail and its entrances that read “Beware of the bees/wasps at 101st and Riverside. They are in the whole area, not just the part that is taped off.”
Anderson had on-and-off headaches for several days following the attack, but he’s back to feeling normal now.
When asked if Jack was stung, Anderson said “We think he was because my son found a dead bee or dead hornet inside his mouth when we got back. Then when we were walking back [home], there were some that I brushed off his coat that were still kind of on him. But his coat and fur are pretty thick, I don’t think they were able to get through that.”
ILTUWS called the Riverside Park Conservancy on September 7 to see if there was a plan in place to remove the wasps along Riverside Drive. We mentioned the bee attack during our call and were told the Conservancy was logging the incident for action. They also suggested calling 311 to help expedite the problem.
I was stung too about two weeks ago, also walking my dog in Riverside Park and 90th. Fortunately only by one. But it hurt terrible!
On 8/20 I filed a 311 complaint about a wasp or hornet nest in Riverside Park at about 100th street & sent photos. My complaint status is “open” in the system.
My email to Riverside Park Conservatory and 311 were ignored. After many months, I did receive a generic email from 311 stating my request had been closed.
Should this happen to anyone else, may I suggest: ASAP – Pour hot water over a washcloth or small towel and hold or press around the sting – which helps break up the protein in the venom. Takes pain away pretty quickly.
Of course if your skin or face starts to swell – get to the nearest ER.
Thank you for the hot press tip. I’ll pass it along!! Teressa
Oh, THAT kind of wasp! 🙂
Had never seen them until last summer. Notified Riverside Park Conservatory and 311. I saw them in the EXACT area photographed in this article–the lawn between the service road and Riverside Dr. Didn’t see them earlier this summer, but was alarmed today when I saw them buzzing around the area where that tree had been cut down. Came across this after coming home to research their presence/species again. Sorry that happened to you, but thank you for getting people to pay attention!