Bellingham, Wash. (AP) – A bee emergency unfolded on Friday in northwestern Washington when around 250 million bees escaped from a commercial truck that had overturned.
According to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, the estimated 70,000-pound (31,751-kilogram) truck tipped over around 4 AM near the Canadian border close to Linden.
The driver misjudged the tight turns, resulting in the trailer rolling into a ditch, county emergency management spokesperson Amy Cloud explained via email. Fortunately, the driver sustained no injuries, Cloud added.
Deputies, public works employees, and several bee specialists responded promptly to the scene. The sheriff’s office noted that the hive box was later extracted from the truck, and local beekeepers quickly arrived to assist with recovery and relocation efforts.
The sheriff’s office reported that the bees would return to their hives and be able to locate the queen the following day, aiming to preserve as many bees as possible.
“We are thankful for the incredible community of beekeepers. Over 20 individuals have come forward to ensure that the rescue of millions of bees proceeds as smoothly as possible,” stated the Sheriff’s Office.
Members of the public were urged to steer clear of the area on Friday, and sheriff’s deputies occasionally hopped into their squad cars to avoid being stung.
Bees play a crucial role in our food supply, pollinating more than 100 crops, including nuts, vegetables, berries, citrus fruits, and melons. Unfortunately, populations of bees and other pollinators have been declining for years, with experts attributing the decrease to insecticides, parasites, diseases, climate change, and limited food diversity.
In 2018, the United Nations General Assembly celebrated its inaugural “World Bee Day” on May 20. Be cautious around bees.
Beekeepers often relocate millions of bees to different sites since keeping them in one area for too long can deplete local pollinator resources. The Seattle Times reported.
Alan Woods, president of the Washington Beekeepers Association, suggested that the state needs a standardized “emergency bee response” plan for incidents involving bee transport trucks. In 2015, 14 million bees escaped in a separate truck incident north of the interstate, which led to stinging incidents reported in the media at the time.
Source: apnews.com