PURE NIGHTMARE FUEL.
Approximately 250 million bees escaped after a semi-truck rolled over in Washington state.
According to the New York Post, the truck was transporting 70,000 pounds of honey bee hives when it crashed in Whatcom County.
🚨 Bee alert: A truck crash that set 250 million bees free has sparked warnings in the western US, with police telling people to avoid swarms of the stinging insects
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) May 31, 2025
The truck crashed on Weidkamp Road near Lynden around 4 a.m. on Friday.
“Shortly after 9 a.m. the hives came off the truck, which freed the bees. Master beekeepers are on scene, and others are on the way, to assist in re-setting the box hives. The plan is to allow the bees to re-hive and find their queen bee. That should occur within the next 24-48 hours. The goal is to save as many of the bees as possible,” the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office stated on Facebook.
“As of 10:30 a.m., deputies turned the scene over to WCSO Division of Emergency Management (DEM). DEM is assisted on-scene by several Master Beekeepers,” it continued.
“While there is no general health risk to the public, anyone who is allergic to bee stings or has concerns should check the State Department of Health webpage on bees and wasps,” it added.
There are 250 million bees loose on Weidkamp Road between W. Badger and Loomis Trail. Please utilize alternative routes as WSCO deputies, public works and bee experts work to contain the situation. pic.twitter.com/NxupsmTzxU
— Whatcom County Gov (@Whatcomctygov) May 30, 2025
From the New York Post:
“We’re literally grabbing a bee box and then grabbing the frames that contain the honey, the bees and the brood, putting them back in the box and restacking them on pallets to hopefully have some survival rate to work with here,” local beekeeper Derek Condit told KOMO News as swarms of bees surrounded him.
“When they said 200 million bees, they meant it,” Matt Klein, the Deputy Director of Emergency Management for the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, told KOMO News.
Klein was stung a dozen times and still had stingers “attached to his ears” late Friday night, the Washington Emergency Management Division revealed on X.
“But they’re honeybees, so the sting isn’t as severe as some other bees, so, so far, everybody is fine,” Klein told KOMO News earlier in the day.
WATCH:
250 million bees unleashed after truck crash in the U.S.
A truck carrying hives overturned near Whatcom, Washington, releasing over 250 million aggressive bees. Locals warned to stay indoors as swarms sting anything in their path.#Bees #USA #TruckAccident #Whatcom… pic.twitter.com/i1EAVlcezQ
— Cyrus (@Cyrus_In_The_X) May 31, 2025
Per NBC News:
Katie Buckley, the pollinator health coordinator for the Washington State Department of Agriculture, indicated many of the bees will not only survive but reconnect with their hives and travel on to their destination.
“Bees are actually surprisingly sturdy,” she told NBC affiliate KING of Seattle.
People should still avoid the bees, and the area of the overturned semi-truck, because they’re probably unhappy about being ejected, even if separation from their hives is temporary.
ADVERTISEMENT“They’re also probably having a bad day,” she said.
The sheriff’s office, meanwhile, said the roadway could reopen Saturday morning, when the insects’ owners will most likely take over, according to a statement.
KING said it was working to determine where the bees were headed. The sheriff’s office didn’t say. The cause of the crash was not available.
