Swarm of bees surround tree next to mural with famous Muhammad Ali quote

LOUISVILLE, KY-- A message from the other side or just coincidence? It's what many are asking themselves after a swarm of bees surrounded a tree next to a mural with a famous Muhammad Ali quote.

The mural is near the Muhammad Ali Center and just a few feet away from a makeshift memorial honoring the late boxing heavyweight champion.

Museum officials had to call in a beekeeper Sunday to collect the bees after officials feared they would travel and hurt someone.

Beekeeper Kevin McKinney says the irony of where the bees decided to gather is not lost on him.

"They liked the spot, the irony is not lost on me though. It was that they actually picked a pretty good spot."

He too is familiar with Ali's famous "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" quote.

But McKinney says bees swarming a tree is also a natural phenomenon, very common in May and June in the region.

Muhammad Ali passed away Friday.