### Millions of Bees Escape Following Truck Overturn in Whatcom County

**WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash.** – In a rare incident, hundreds of millions of bees were unexpectedly released in Whatcom County on Friday when a semi-truck transporting the pollinators overturned. The resulting chaos saw millions of bees swarm the overturned vehicle, as captured in a striking photograph shared by the Whatcom County Sheriff's Department.

Emergency services were alerted to the accident shortly after 4 a.m., although it is believed the incident occurred earlier that morning. The crash took place on Weidkamp Road, leading authorities to close the area between West Badger and Loomis Trail Road near Lynden to manage the recovery efforts.

Responders included deputies from the Whatcom County Sheriff's office, Whatcom County Public Works personnel, and a bee expert. By Friday afternoon, authorities reported that the hive boxes had been recovered and restored, allowing for the possibility of many bees rejoining their queens and returning to their hives. Officials expect that the majority of the bees will have rehived by Saturday morning.

The road closure is expected to remain in effect until the end of the operation, which may extend into Saturday. Drivers are advised to steer clear of the area until the bees have been secured.

Dr. Katie Buckley, a pollinator health coordinator with the Washington State Department of Agriculture, was also called in to provide her expertise on the situation. In her interview with KING 5, Dr. Buckley provided some assurance that a significant number of the bees are likely to survive and be able to continue their journey.

Buckley recommended that rescuers wait until nighttime to attempt moving the hives, as bees are unable to fly after dark. Additionally, she advised using red light to illuminate the scene, since bees are not able to see the color red. She also noted that people should avoid the vicinity as the bees, potentially annoyed by the disturbance, could exhibit agitated behaviors.

Despite their current state of agitation, Dr. Buckley reassured that the bees, likely European honey bees, are generally not highly aggressive and are unlikely to pursue people aggressively.

This incident highlights the challenges associated with transporting large numbers of bees, a task carried out across the United States and beyond to pollinate various crops. Although unusual, wagon mishaps transporting bees are an acknowledged risk, with one or two similar incidents reported each year, according to Dr. Buckley. Further information regarding the ownership or intended destination of the bees is still being sought by KING 5.