Black Hills Timber Sale Bee-Wasp Sting Incident 2025

On September 23, 2025 an engineering technician for the Black Hills National Forest was conducting road suitability reconnaissance for an upcoming timber sale. While operating an ATV, approximately one-half mile from their vehicle, the tech came to a downed log across the road. As they were navigating over the log, they disturbed a ground nest of wasps. The tech dismounted and moved away from the ATV to avoid being stung as they have a sensitivity to bee/wasp stings. However, one wasp did manage to sting them on the hand. The tech's epinephrine pens were back in their vehicle and the employee anxiously tried to get the ATV back over the log to get back to the vehicle. By the time the tech reached the vehicle, they noticed the common signs and symptoms of their allergy and was able to self-administer their EpiPen and take an antihistamine.