Latest news with #WhatcomCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Authorities scramble as truck crash releases millions of bees: 'Hive boxes from the overturned truck were recovered'
The internet was abuzz after a commercial truck overturned in Washington state near the Canadian border, releasing millions of bees into the surrounding area. As detailed by The Associated Press, a semitruck transporting around 70,000 pounds of honey bee hives rolled over in the early morning hours of Friday, May 30, near Lynden. The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office initially estimated that 250 million honeybees had escaped. With the help of beekeepers who responded to the scene, it later updated that number to 14 million while providing an update on Facebook. Authorities closed Weidkamp Road and advised the public to stay away from the area until the bees were contained and returned to their hives. The internet couldn't resist whipping out its best bee-related quips, with multiple commenters on a KOMO News report on YouTube calling the situation "un-BEE-lievable." "I hope they are beeing careful," another said of the responders, who reported getting stung. However, the crash — which appeared to happen when the driver failed to navigate a turn — also had more serious implications, as keepers often move bees to new areas to prevent them from depleting resources for other pollinators, per the AP. Pollinators are experiencing drastic population declines as a result of toxic chemical pesticides, habitat loss, and rising global temperatures, which supercharge extreme weather events that add additional stress. For instance, heavy rains can prevent bees from foraging, while droughts can mean less nectar is available to eat. A recent Honey Bee Health Coalition survey of commercial keepers in the United States found that they experienced an average loss of 62% between June 2024 and February of this year, potentially threatening to upend food security and damage nature's protective biodiversity. Pollinators such as honey bees support around 75% of flowering plant species and 35% of the world's food crops, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Do you worry about air pollution in your town? All the time Often Only sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Dozens of beekeepers helped Whatcom County officials quickly rescue most of the bees and get them back on the road to their intended destination. "Hive boxes from the overturned truck were recovered, restored and returned to use. By morning, most bees should have returned to their hives and those responsible for their delivery will be in charge," the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook the day after the incident before confirming the following day that recovery work was over. More broadly, you can support pollinators by converting part or all of your water-hungry turf into a natural lawn or rewilded space. Native plants don't just help slash the time and money you spend on lawn maintenance; they also provide resting spots for pollinators and require minimal to zero toxic treatments. And if you find pests are starting to overtake your yard, consider exploring chemical-free options first. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
14 Million Bees Unleashed on Highway After a Truck Crash—Local Beekeepers Rushed to Save Them
Rescue workers in Washington state faced a precarious situation recently when a commercial semi-truck carrying 70,000 pounds of honeybee hives overturned on May 30, releasing 14 million bees into the wild, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office. The driver, who was not hurt, likely "didn't navigate well enough on a tight turn, causing the trailer to roll," Amy Cloud, a spokesperson for the local Whatcom County Sheriff's Department, told The Seattle Times. Several beekeepers, deputies, and emergency responders assisted at the scene, located on Weidkamp Road near Lynden, a town close to the Canadian border. "I had the incredible privilege of helping to rescue millions of honeybees," one of the beekeepers, Derek Condit, wrote in a Facebook post accompanied by a video of the swarming bees. The road was closed for 24 to 48 hours, giving the bees time to reenter their hives and find their queen. "Bees are highly social by nature and drawn to their hives because that's where their queen and the next generation of bees (the 'brood') are located," Gene E. Robinson, an entomologist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, told The New York Times about the rescue efforts. Per the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office, most of the bees returned to their hives, but it's unclear how many survived the ordeal. Some deputies were stung during the rescue efforts, Cloud told The Seattle Times, but no one had to seek medical treatment. It's not unusual for beekeepers to transport bees from one location to another so they don't deplete resources in one particular spot. 'Migratory beekeeping is essential for the production of many important fruit, nut, and vegetable crops, and migratory beekeepers are unsung heroes,' Robinson told The New York Times. The goal of the rescue mission was to save as many bees as possible. According to the National Park Service, about 90 percent of wild flowering plants and 75 percent of food crops around the world depend on pollination to produce fruits and seeds, and bees are an essential part of this process. Read the original article on Martha Stewart
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Watch: Truck rollover releases 14 million bees onto Washington road
June 2 (UPI) -- A tractor-trailer crash on a Washington road set an estimated 14 million bees loose near the Canadian border, causing the roadway to be closed for 24 hours. 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.
UPI
02-06-2025
- General
- UPI
Watch: Truck rollover releases 14 million bees onto Washington road
June 2 (UPI) -- A tractor-trailer crash on a Washington road set an estimated 14 million bees loose near the Canadian border, causing the roadway to be closed for 24 hours. 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.
New York Post
01-06-2025
- General
- New York Post
250 million bees unleashed upon northern Washington after truck overturns
LYNDEN, Wash. — Emergency officials have been busy as … well, you know, cleaning up after a commercial truck full of bee hives crashed in northern Washington, unleashing 250 million bees on first responders. The truck overturned on Weidkamp Road around 4 a.m. Friday near Lynden, just south of the Canadian border, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office. A massive response of deputies, public works officials and several bee experts were called to the scene. The 70,000 pounds of honey bee hives on board came off the truck around 9 a.m., unleashing all the bees, deputies said. '250 million bees are now loose,' Whatcom County Sheriff's deputies posted on Facebook. 'AVOID THE AREA due to the potential of bee escape and swarming.' A photo from the scene showed the surreal sight of millions of bees swarming around the wreckage. 'Master beekeepers are on scene, and others are on the way, to assist in re-setting the box hives,' deputies wrote. 'The plan is to allow the bees to re-hive and find their queen bee. That should occur within the next 24-48 hours. The goal is to save as many of the bees as possible.' 4 A truck crash carrying bee hives released 250 million bees in northern Washington state. Whatcom County Sheriff's Office 4 A swarm of bees seen near the crash truck in Lynden. Whatcom County Sheriff's Office The road was expected to remain closed for up to two days, and authorities urged people to stay at least 200 yards from the crash site. 'While there is no general health risk to the public, anyone who is allergic to bee stings or has concerns should check the State Department of Health webpage on bees and wasps,' deputies wrote. There is no word as to what led up to the crash. 4 The truck was carrying 70,000 pounds of honey bee hives. Whatcom County Sheriff's Office 4 Authorities have warned people to avoid the area. Whatcom County Sheriff's Office By late afternoon, crews had made progress cleaning up the mess. 'Thank you to the wonderful community of beekeepers: over two dozen showed up to help ensure the rescue of millions of pollinating honey bees would be as successful as possible,' deputies wrote. 'Hive boxes from the overturned truck were recovered, restored and returned to use. By morning, most bees should have returned to their hives.' This is not the first time Western Washington has dealt with such a bee calamity. In 2015, a truck carrying some 40 million bees was involved in a wreck on Interstate 5 in the northern Seattle suburbs, unleashing a chaotic cloud of angry bees upon commuters and first responders.
