In a remarkable incident in Washington State, millions of bees made their escape after a truck carrying approximately 70,000 pounds of honey bee hives overturned on a road this past Friday. Authorities issued alerts, advising the public to steer clear of the area due to the swarming bees.
Emergency responders collaborated with skilled beekeepers to address the situation. The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) stated their primary objective was to rescue as many bees as possible. Following the accident, the crash site was secured and closed until the rescue operation was complete.
Initially, authorities reported that around 250 million bees were loose, but upon reevaluation with input from beekeepers, the estimate was revised to approximately 14 million. WCSO outlined plans to facilitate the re-hiving of the bees and help them locate their queen within the next 24 to 48 hours.
In a social media update, police expressed gratitude towards the beekeeping community, noting that over two dozen volunteers had come forward to assist in the efforts to recover the bees. They also noted that by the following morning, a majority of the bees were expected to return to their hives, alleviating concerns about the escaped swarm.
While honey production is a primary focus for many beekeepers, others provide essential pollination services by renting their hives to farmers.
Source: www.bbc.com
