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WA beekeeper working to save millions of bees involved in crash in Whatcom County
WA beekeeper working to save millions of bees involved in crash in Whatcom County

Yahoo

time21 hours ago

  • General
  • Yahoo

WA beekeeper working to save millions of bees involved in crash in Whatcom County

WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. - Millions of bees escaped in Whatcom County after a semi-truck overturned on Friday. The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office initially reported 250 million bees had escaped, but yesterday they changed that estimate to 14 million bees. We talked with a beekeeper who was on scene and gave us a better look at what those beekeepers experienced on Friday. Big picture view It's the buzz heard across social media, bees as far as the eye can see. They were in the air and on the ground, surrounding those trying to save them by the millions. For beekeeper Derek Condit, that day quickly changed and became an experience that went bee-yond anything he could imagine. He was able to capture video on Friday after a semi-truck carrying 70,000 pounds of honey bee hives overturned in Whatcom County. The crash sent an estimated 14 million bees swarming on Weidkamp Road near Lynden. What they're saying "The sheriff's department was probably several hundred yards down the road because you couldn't approach it unless you were completely suited up," Condit said. They tried to save the bees by putting the beehives back together – not an easy task, since hundreds of beehives slid off the truck, got mixed up, damaged and some even opened up! Local perspective The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office and the beekeepers are now giving the bees a chance to re-hive and find their queen bee. "Many of the queens did do just that. They swarmed in the nearby trees and local forest where the other bees will meet up with them and start a new colony, hopefully," said the beekeeper. Derek told Fox 13, he learned these bees had just finished pollinating blueberry fields and were headed to South Dakota, adding another sting to a sticky situation. "It's going to be nearly a complete loss for all of these hives because of the devastation," he said. "It's not often somebody gets to be in the presence of millions of bees while they're there, but they also had, believe, not, a calming feel to them, almost like they felt like we were there to help." The Source Information for this story came from original FOX 13 Seattle interviews. Homicide investigation underway after 5-year-old dies in Federal Way, WA Major 5-day SR 18 closure at I-90 in Snoqualmie, WA Alaska man pinned by 700-pound boulder for 3 hours walks away unharmed Why hasn't anyone been charged in Seattle clash arrests? What we know Mandatory driver's education to expand under new Washington law To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.

Bee recovery work complete after millions spill out on Whatcom County, WA road
Bee recovery work complete after millions spill out on Whatcom County, WA road

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • General
  • Yahoo

Bee recovery work complete after millions spill out on Whatcom County, WA road

The Brief Recovery crews have cleared the site of a semi-truck crash in Whatcom County. Millions of bees were being transported by the semi-truck driver at the time. The roadway was closed for more than 24 hours. WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. - On Saturday afternoon, cleanup crews in Whatcom County announced the completion of bee recovery work at the site of a semi-truck crash that involved millions of bees on May 30. The backstory Weidkamp Road in Whatcom County was shut down Friday morning after local authorities reported that a truck that was carrying 70,000 pounds of bees had overturned. On Saturday morning, the sheriff's office reported that 14 million bees spilled out during the crash. Initial reports estimated the number of bees was closer to 250 million. The WCSO thanked those who were able to more accurately assess the number of impacted bees. Local perspective Deputies say more than two dozen people showed up to help ensure the rescue of millions of the pollinating honey bees. Crews and community members were working with hive boxes from the crash to recover, restore and return the highest number of bees possible. The Washington State Department of Agriculture posted on social media Friday that most bees would be expected to survive under their recovery plan. The Source Information in this story came from the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office. Homicide investigation underway after 5-year-old dies in Federal Way, WA Major 5-day SR 18 closure at I-90 in Snoqualmie, WA Alaska man pinned by 700-pound boulder for 3 hours walks away unharmed Why hasn't anyone been charged in Seattle clash arrests? What we know Mandatory driver's education to expand under new Washington law To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.

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