250 Million Bees On The Loose After Truck Overturns In US, Police Issue Public Warning

Last Updated:May 31, 2025, 17:52 IST

A truck carrying over 70,000 pounds of active beehives overturned near the US-Canada border, releasing an estimated 250 million bees into the air.

Emergency teams and over two dozen beekeepers rushed to rescue millions of bees after a truck overturned in Washington, US. (IMAGE: X)

A sleepy stretch of road near the US-Canada border turned into a buzzing hazard zone on Friday after a truck carrying roughly 250 million honeybees overturned in Washington state, UK broadcaster BBC said in a report. The vehicle was reportedly transporting over 31,750 kg of active hives when it flipped, sending the bees swarming into the open.

Authorities immediately issued a public warning asking residents to “AVOID THE AREA", fearing potential bee attacks. “250 million bees are now loose," the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office posted, triggering both panic and curiosity on social media.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene, backed by over two dozen master beekeepers, in what looked like a scene straight out of a Hollywood disaster flick. Their mission: rescue and re-hive the bees before things got out of hand.

Officials said efforts were underway to calm the chaos by helping the bees reunite with their queens and return to their box hives. “The goal is to save as many bees as possible," the Sheriff’s Office said, adding that the cleanup could take 24 to 48 hours.

In the US, bee transport is big business and many farmers rent bee colonies to help pollinate crops. This particular swarm was likely headed to a farm before nature hit pause.

Local officials later thanked the beekeeper community for stepping in at short notice: “By morning, most bees should have returned to their hives," they said.

In the US, bee transport is a major part of modern agriculture. Many large-scale farms rely on rented honeybee colonies to pollinate their crops—especially fruits, nuts and vegetables that can’t grow properly without insect pollination. Commercial beekeepers often transport hives across states, moving with the seasons to support different types of crops.

For instance, in California’s Central Valley, almond orchards alone require billions of bees every year during their short blooming window. Once that season ends, the hives are often moved to other states for crops like apples, blueberries, or pumpkins.

Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...Read More

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...

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Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

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