Revised: Bee Truck Spill Releases 14 Million Bees

A semi-truck carrying about 70,000 pounds of honey bee hives overturned early Friday morning near Lynden, Washington, close to the Canadian border, releasing an estimated 14 million honey bees—down from initial reports of up to 250 million. The bees, being transported for agricultural pollination, scattered into the area, prompting a response from emergency crews and over two dozen local beekeepers who worked to recover and re-hive them. Authorities warned those with bee sting allergies to avoid the area, though the general public was not considered at risk. Several responders were stung during the recovery effort. Most bees were expected to return to their hives by Saturday, enabling the reopening of the affected road. The incident underscores the importance and challenges of bee transport and pollinator conservation in agriculture.