Whatcom County: A truck transporting tens of millions of honeybees overturned in rural Washington state on Friday, triggering an emergency response and public safety warnings from local authorities.
The accident occurred in Whatcom County, roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Vancouver, Canada, where the truck—carrying an estimated 70,000 pounds (over 31,000 kilograms) of active beehives—overturned, releasing approximately 250 million bees into the area.
In a statement shared on social media, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) urged residents to steer clear of the affected zone due to the high risk of swarming. Officials established a secure perimeter and advised the public to remain at least 200 yards (182 meters) away while bee experts and emergency crews worked to contain the situation.
Authorities are working to re-hive the bees and help them locate their queens—a delicate operation that could take up to two days. While the sheriff’s office noted that there is no immediate health threat to the general public, they advised individuals with bee sting allergies to take precautions and consult state health resources.
Honeybees play a vital role in agriculture by pollinating over 100 types of crops, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Many beekeepers lease their colonies to farmers to support crop yields. Officials warned that the temporary loss of such a large bee population could have significant implications for local agriculture during the peak of the growing season.
Pollinator populations, including honeybees, have been steadily declining in recent years due to a combination of pesticide exposure, disease, habitat loss, and climate change. In response to global concerns, the United Nations established World Bee Day in 2018, celebrated annually on May 20, to raise awareness of the importance of bees to food security and biodiversity.
Transporting bees across regions is a common practice among commercial beekeepers to prevent overuse of local resources. Similar incidents have occurred in the past—in 2015, a truck accident on Interstate 5 near Seattle released 14 million bees, some of which stung people in the aftermath.
Officials continue efforts to recover the hives and minimize disruption to the bees, local farms, and residents.
