An estimated 250 million bees escaped from an overturned truck in the US state of Washington on Friday, sparking warnings from authorities for the public to avoid the swarm of stinging insects.
“250 million bees are now loose,” wrote Whatcom County Sheriff.
Bee-keepers worked with police “to assist in re-setting the box hives”, containers bee-keepers use to house honeybees.
“The plan is to allow the bees to re-hive and find their queen bee,” WCSO said, adding: “That should occur within the next 24-48 hours.”
“By morning, most bees should have returned to their hives,” WCSO wrote on Facebook.
Authorities in the US state of Washington issued warnings to the public to stay away from the swarm of stinging insects after an estimated 250 million bees escaped from an overturned truck on Friday.
When the truck carrying about 70,000 pounds (31,750 kilograms) of active honey bee hives overturned on a road close to the Canadian border, emergency officials received assistance from a number of expert beekeepers.
“The objective is to preserve the greatest number of bees possible,” the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) stated soon after the event.
“Until the rescue is complete,” the authorities declared, the crash site would remain closed.
“250 million bees are now loose,” the Whatcom County Sheriff wrote. Because of the possibility of bees escaping and swarming, “AVOID THE AREA.”.
Beekeepers and law enforcement collaborated “to assist in re-setting the box hives,” which are containers used to house honeybees.
“During the next 24 to 48 hours, the bees should be able to re-hive and locate their queen bee,” WCSO stated. “,”.
Later on Friday, police thanked “the wonderful community of bee-keepers” on social media, stating that “over two dozen” had come to assist with the rescue efforts.
On Facebook, WCSO stated, “Most bees should have gone back to their hives by morning.”.
Police released footage of a swarm of bees surrounding the overturned truck.
Some beekeepers only want to make honey, but many others rent out their hives to farmers who depend on the insects to pollinate their crops.
