Millions of bees escape transport vehicle in Washington after rollover
Approximately 14 million pollinating bees were loose in Whatcom County after a commercial truck carrying them rolled over Friday morning.
The truck was hauling an estimated 70,000 pounds of honey bee hives, which contained live bees. It overturned at about 4 a.m. on May 30 on Weidkamp Road near Lynden.
The county originally estimated there were 250 million bees on the truck but revised that number Saturday to about 14 million.
Weidkamp Road was temporarily closed from West Badger to Loomis Trail Road. Normal traffic resumed around 1 p.m. Saturday.
Members of the public had been advised to avoid the area and stay at least 200 yards away, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
“AVOID THE AREA due to the potential of bee escape and swarming,” a social media post from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office states.
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Whatcom County Public Works staff and more than two dozen beekeepers responded, according to the post.
“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,” another post by the Sheriff’s Office said.
By late afternoon Friday, hive boxes from the overturned truck were recovered, restored and returned to use.
“By morning, most bees should have returned to their hives and those responsible for their delivery will be in charge,” another post by the Sheriff’s Office said.
The Sheriff’s Office said there is no general health risk to the public, but advised anyone allergic to bee stings to visit the Washington State Department of Health webpage on bees and wasps.
The Sheriff’s Office did not provide information about the status of the truck driver or the reason for the rollover.
This is a developing story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.
This story was originally published May 30, 2025 at 10:47 AM with the headline "Millions of bees escape transport vehicle in Washington after rollover."
