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Overturned Washington Truck Releases 250 Million Bees as Rescue Continues

Volunteer beekeepers with sheriff’s deputies restore hives in a bid to help the bees find their queen by Saturday morning.

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Overview

  • A commercial truck carrying roughly 70,000 pounds of bee hives rolled over on Weidkamp Road near Lynden at about 4 a.m. Friday, releasing an estimated 250 million honeybees.
  • Local deputies, county public works crews and over two dozen volunteer beekeepers recovered, restored and reset the box hives to contain the swarm.
  • Authorities expect most bees to return to their hives and reunite with their queen within 24 to 48 hours, maximizing colony survival.
  • Weidkamp Road remains closed between Loomis Trail and West Badger until the bee rescue operation is complete.
  • Officials advise residents to stay at least 180 meters from the scene to avoid swarms but say there is no general health risk to the public.