Millions of bees on Friday, escaped from an overturned truck in the US state of Washington.
Gatekeepers News reports that Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) urged people to avoid the area due to the potential of bees escaping and swarming.
The truck, carrying approximately 70,000 pounds (31,750 kg) of active honey bee hives, overturned near the Canadian border, releasing a massive swarm. Emergency responders were supported by several master beekeepers in managing the situation.
The authorities noted that the crash site would remain closed to the public until the recovery operation was complete.
Initially, authorities estimated that around 250 million bees were on the loose, but after consulting with a beekeeper on the scene, they revised the number to a more accurate estimate of 14 million.
WCSO said, “The plan is to allow the bees to re-hive and find their queen bee,” adding that they hoped this would happen within the next 24-48 hours.
In a social media update later that day, Police expressed gratitude to the local beekeeping community, noting that over two dozen beekeepers had joined the rescue effort.
It added, “By morning, most of the bees should be back in their hives.”
Police also released footage showing thousands of bees swarming around the overturned truck. While many beekeepers focus on honey production, others rent out their hives to farmers for crop pollination
