Truck Overturns in Washington, Releasing 250 Million Honeybees Into Chaos

Roughly 250 million honeybees were unleashed onto a highway in northwest Washington state after a semi-truck carrying hives overturned, leading to stings, road closures, and an urgent cleanup effort.

The truck, loaded with nearly 70,000 pounds of commercial beehives, crashed on a rural road near the Canadian border. Authorities in Whatcom County say the driver lost control during a sharp turn, causing the vehicle to tip and hundreds of hive boxes to spill onto the road.

While the driver escaped uninjured, the accident released millions of honeybees into the area. Beekeepers and sheriff’s deputies rushed to the scene to recover as many bees as possible and relocate the surviving hives.

But within hours, a swarm turned aggressive and began stinging law enforcement officers, forcing several deputies to retreat into patrol vehicles for protection. Local authorities quickly issued warnings urging residents to avoid the area until the bees could be safely contained.

Whatcom County officials said the road will remain closed for several days to give the bees time to settle and return to their hives.

Honeybees play a vital role in the food supply chain, pollinating more than 100 different crops, including vegetables, berries, citrus fruits, and nuts. However, their populations have been in decline for years due to pesticides, disease, habitat loss, and climate change.

The United Nations established World Bee Day in 2018, observed annually on May 20, to raise global awareness about the threats facing pollinators.

The Seattle Times reported that commercial beekeepers often transport millions of bees across regions, as keeping them in one location too long can deplete local resources needed by other pollinators.

Alan Woods, president of the Washington State Beekeepers Association, called for the creation of emergency protocols specifically for crashes involving bee transport. In 2015, a similar accident north of Seattle led to the escape of around 14 million bees and multiple stinging incidents.

Sources: AP, The Guardian

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