Overturned Truck Dumps Millions Of Bees On Highway
April 22, 2015 A truck filled with nearly 14 million bees overturned last week on a highway near Lynnwood, WA. The driver was unharmed.
The truck contained 448 hives that were to be used for pollination. According to an article in the Seattle Times, the bees were worth $92,000.
Not all of the hives perished when the truck dumped its load after merging onto the freeway about 3:30 a.m. on April 17. The article states that approximately 128 hives were saved.
According to Komonews.com,, the insects were owned by Belleville Honey and Beekeeping supply. After the spill, the company sent beekeepers to recover as many bees as possible.
It is estimated, however, that 10 million bees died. As the sun came up, the bees became too active, making it increasingly difficult to preserve the hives, the Seattle Times reported.
Mark Emrich, president of the Washington State Beekeepers Association, told the Seattle Times that about 70% of commercial beekeepers bring their hives down to California to pollinate almonds.
After California, “they work their way north to do fruits, bush berries, vegetables,” Emrich told the newspaper.
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