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Rescuers Re-Hive 250 Million Bees After Truck Overturn in Washington

The operation to re-hive millions of insects underscores the vital role of honeybees in seasonal crop pollination

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Overview

  • On May 30 around 4 a.m., a semi-truck hauling 70,000 pounds of bee hives rolled over on Weidkamp Road near Lynden, freeing an estimated 250 million honeybees.
  • Whatcom County deputies, public works crews and over two dozen volunteer beekeepers worked together to recover, repair and reset dislodged hive boxes.
  • Officials closed Weidkamp Road between Loomis Trail and West Badger for up to 48 hours and urged residents to stay at least 200 yards away to avoid swarming bees.
  • Most bees returned to their box hives and reconnected with their queen by Saturday morning, enabling authorities to reopen the road and resume their scheduled pollination transport to South Dakota.
  • Honeybees pollinate more than 100 crops nationwide, and commercial hive transport is crucial to preventing resource depletion and supporting agricultural yields.