Blaine, WA – A semi-truck carrying an estimated 250 million honey bees overturned Friday morning near the Canadian border, releasing a massive swarm of disoriented pollinators into the air and sparking a unique rescue operation in Whatcom County.
The truck, hauling hives through Blaine, Washington, crashed and caused hive boxes to scatter across the roadway, prompting an unusual emergency response.
According to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, more than two dozen local volunteer beekeepers quickly mobilized to the scene. Working throughout the day, they restored and reassembled the displaced hives, with the goal of helping the bees locate their queens and return to safety.
“Hive boxes from the overturned truck were recovered, restored and returned to use,” the sheriff’s office said in an update Friday afternoon. “By morning, most bees should have returned to their hives and those responsible for their delivery will be in charge.”
Officials initially warned that rounding up the insects could take up to 48 hours, with residents urged to steer clear of the crash area due to the agitated nature of the bees.
Authorities have not released the cause of the crash, and it remains unclear where the bees were being transported. The roadway was expected to reopen by Saturday morning.
The sheriff’s office credited the “wonderful community of beekeepers” for their swift action in protecting the vital pollinators.
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