Approximately 250 million bees escaped after a tractor-trailer carrying more than 70,000 pounds of pollinator hives rolled over Friday in northern Washington state, authorities said.
The hives came off the truck shortly after 9 a.m., which freed the bees.
The incident happened on Weidkamp Road, which remains closed between Loomis Trail and West Badger roads, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office said.
Authorities said the road where the truck overturned will be closed for 24 to 48 hours to allow the bees to re-hive and find their queen bee.
Hive boxes from the overturned truck were recovered, restored and returned to use,” authorities said in an update.
Authorities said that a tractor-trailer carrying over 70,000 pounds of pollinator hives rolled over Friday in northern Washington state, allowing about 250 million bees to escape.
Around 4 a.m., the commercial truck carrying the honeybees capsized. m. in Washington’s Whatcom County, which shares a border with British Columbia, the sheriff’s office stated on social media. The cause of the truck’s rollover is unknown.
Shortly after nine in the morning, the hives were removed from the truck. A. which set the bees free. According to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, the incident took place on Weidkamp Road, which is still blocked between Loomis Trail and West Badger roads.
The public should stay at least 600 feet away from the area, according to authorities. The sheriff’s office stated, “Anyone who is allergic to bee stings or has concerns should check the State Department of Health webpage on bees and wasps,” even though there is no harm to the public’s general health.
For 24 to 48 hours, the road where the truck overturned will be closed, according to authorities, to give the bees time to find their queen bee and re-hive.
The sheriff’s office reported that over two dozen beekeepers arrived to help with the rescue, saying: “The objective is to save as many of the bees as possible.”. “.
On-scene work is finished at this moment. Authorities reported in an update that the hive boxes from the overturned truck had been found, fixed, and put back into service. The majority of the bees should have gone back to their hives by morning, and the people in charge of delivering them will be in command. “.”.
