Maine Family Safely Relocates 40,000 Bees

A Maine farmhouse, managed by the Knight family since 1720, was home to an estimated 40,000 bees that had been living in its walls for up to 80 years. Rather than exterminating the bees during a renovation, the family opted to relocate the colony with the help of a bee expert, Andrew MacDonald. He successfully removed the bees, emphasizing their medicinal value and importance in pollination. The family plans to maintain the newly established outdoor hive and hopes that the bees will survive the winter to be relocated to a permanent site on the farm. This unique situation highlights the long-standing relationship between the family and the bees, which they sought to preserve. Maine is home to over 270 bee species, reflecting the ecological significance of such colonies.