Watch: Truck rollover releases 14 million bees onto Washington road
The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office said the truck was carrying more than 70,000 pounds of honey bee hives when it rolled over Friday on Weidkamp Road, between Loomis Trail and West Badger roads.
The crash caused what was initially reported to be 250 million bees -- but was later amended to be closer to 14 million bees -- to swarm around the roadway.
The roadway was closed for about 24 hours to allow the bees to return to their hives and locate their queens.
More than two dozen beekeepers assisted with rescue efforts.
"The goal is to save as many of the bees as possible," the sheriff's office said on social media.
"At this time, on-scene work is done. Hive boxes from the overturned truck were recovered, restored and returned to use," officials wrote. "By morning, most bees should have returned to their hives and those responsible for their delivery will be in charge."
Beekeepers said the insects that did not return to their hives will likely turn wild, joining existing colonies or forming new ones. They said the weather and environmental conditions in the area give the bees a high chance of survival.
The initial crash appeared to be the result of the driver failing to adequately navigate a turn, officials said. The truck driver was not injured.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
a day ago
- UPI
Man wins two big lottery prizes from the same vending machine
A Maryland man won $50,000 from a scratch-off lottery ticket after winning $10,000 earlier this year from a ticket he bought from the same vending machine. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A Maryland man won a $50,000 prize from a scratch-off lottery ticket after previously winning $10,000 from another game he bought from the same vending machine. The Ellicott City resident told Maryland Lottery officials he bought a $20 Lucky 777 ticket from the vending machine at the Shell gas station on Waterloo Road in Ellicott City. "I play the larger tickets because the odds are better," the man said. "But most of my wins come on the $20 tickets." The man said he was initially planning to buy two crossword-themed scratch-offs, but he was pressed for time so he bought only the single Lucky 777 ticket. That ticket turned out to be a $50,000 winner. The man won a $10,000 prize earlier this year from a ticket he purchased from the same vending machine. The winner said he does not intend to stop buying tickets. "My expectations have not changed. I have no expectation of winning. At best, I'll break even," he said. The man said his winnings will help fund a trip to Disney World with his daughter and her family.
UPI
a day ago
- UPI
Watch: Texas chicken named world's oldest at the age of 14
Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A Texas woman's pet chicken was officially named the oldest in the world by Guinness World Records at the age of 14 years and 69 days old. Little Elm resident Sonya Hull said she hatched the chicken, Pearl, in her personal incubator on March 13, 2011. Guinness World Records confirmed Pearl's age on May 22, officially earning her the title of world's oldest living chicken. "She's defied all odds because most Easter-Egger Hens live an average of five to eight years," Hull told Guinness World Records. She said Pearl's mobility is limited now, so she spends most of her time in the family's laundry room. "She is welcome to come out into the living room, because she likes to watch TV when she hears it on," Hull said. Pearl is also fond of the family's elderly cat and new kitten. "She doesn't seem to mind the other animals, and the kitten will sometimes sit with her," Hull said. Hull said Pearl's egg production has slowed, but she laid one right after the family found out she was an official Guinness World Record-holder. The previous oldest chicken living, an Illinois pet named Peanut, died Dec. 25, 2023, at the age of 21 years and 238 days old.
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Artist drowns sculpture in plastic waste in front of UN office during pollution talks
As nations began a second week of negotiations Monday for a global accord to end plastic pollution, an artist heaped piles of plastic waste onto a large sculpture in front of the United Nations office. Delegates to the treaty talks pass by the sculpture daily in a reminder of their responsibility to solve the plastic pollution crisis. The talks are scheduled to conclude on Thursday. Benjamin Von Wong, a Canadian artist and activist, designed the nearly 6-meter (18-foot) sculpture called the 'Thinker's Burden' and built it with a team. It's his take on the famous sculpture by Auguste Rodin, 'The Thinker' in Paris. Advertisement 4 Benjamin Von Wong, a Canadian artist and activist, poses in front of a sculpture that he designed in front of the United Nations office in Geneva, Switzerland. AP There is a male figure in deep thought, like Rodin depicted. But instead of sitting atop a rock, Von Wong's figure sits atop Mother Earth while cradling a baby and clutching plastic bottles. A strand of DNA intertwines them to highlight the health impacts of plastic pollution. With the help of volunteers, Von Wong is adding plastic waste to the installation over the course of the negotiations to reflect the growing cost of inaction. He climbed a ladder Monday to reach the top of the sculpture and weave plastic bottles through the DNA. He put a plastic toy car in front. 'By the end of this week, we should have a sculpture almost completely drowned in plastics; however, the hope is, a strong and ambitious plastics treaty means that we can solve this problem once and for all,' he said. Advertisement The Minderoo Foundation, an Australian philanthropic organization, was the largest donor for the project. Local nonprofits and community groups collected the plastic trash. Standing by the sculpture, Maria Ivanova, an expert in international environmental governance, said it 'wakes you up.' Ivanova is the co-director of the Plastics Center at Northeastern University in Boston. 'People don't change their minds because of facts. They do because of feelings,' she said. 'And this is where I think art is absolutely critical to shift the needle on policy.' Advertisement 4 Von Wong began putting the plastic on the sculptures as nations negotiate a global accord to end plastic pollution. AP 4 'By the end of this week, we should have a sculpture almost completely drowned in plastics; however, the hope is, a strong and ambitious plastics treaty means that we can solve this problem once and for all,' Von Wong said. AFP via Getty Images Delegates and tourists stopped to ask Von Wong about his work and posed for photos in front of it. Michael Bonser, head of the Canadian delegation, called the artwork 'extraordinarily profound.' 'It gives us a sense, every day, of what we need to be doing inside the room, what we need to walk out with. And that's a deal that allows us to reverse the trend,' he said. 'That's going to be challenging, but I think it's possible.' Advertisement About 3,700 people are taking part in the talks, representing 184 countries and more than 600 organizations. They are crafting the first global, legally binding treaty on plastic pollution. 4 With the help of volunteers, Von Wong is adding plastic waste to the installation over the course of the negotiations to reflect the growing cost of inaction. AP Many agree that the pace of the negotiations needs to speed up. They arrived in Geneva with hundreds of disagreements to be resolved. The number of unresolved issues grew last week, instead of shrinking. European Commissioner Jessika Roswall said she's concerned about the lack of progress, and 'it's time to get results.' Roswall is commissioner for environment, water resilience, and a competitive circular economy. United Nations Environment Programme Executive Director Inger Andersen told reporters it's still possible to agree on a treaty this week that ends plastic pollution. 'This is within grasp,' Andersen said. 'The window remains open to leave Geneva with this treaty.'
