Source: apnews
On May 30, 2025, a semi-truck carrying around 250 million honeybees in 70,000 pounds of hives overturned near Lynden, Washington, close to the Canadian border. The accident happened early in the morning when the driver missed a tight turn. Fortunately, no one was injured.
The crash released a huge number of bees into the area, prompting a large emergency response from law enforcement, public works staff, and over two dozen beekeepers. While efforts were made to recover and stabilise the hives, the bees became aggressive, forcing some responders to retreat.
Authorities urged the public to avoid the area, and the incident has renewed calls for a standardised emergency plan for bee-related transport spills, especially since similar accidents have occurred in the region before.
Honeybees are essential to agriculture, pollinating over 100 types of crops, but their populations are at risk due to various environmental threats.
Reference: May 31, 2025
https://apnews.com/article/honeybee-spill-washington-f68bd72fba2f258c9e265fadcec3b357