Bees Back in the News

Bees are back in the news. Just yesterday, headlines covered an incredible story about more than 250 million bees being released into the wild, and not by choice but due to an unfortunate accident. Beehive boxes and frames flung through the air as a semi-truck on its way to South Dakota rolled over in Washington state. The truck was hauling more than 70,000 pounds of honey bee hives when it overturned north of Seattle, near Canada. When the hives fell off the truck, the bees were released from their boxes and began to swarm, which is why officials asked people to stay indoors and avoid any swarms they encountered. Although bees are not typically aggressive, the sheer shock of the crash must have caused bees to feel disoriented and threatened, which put people at greater risk.

Officials immediately got in touch with local beekeepers, and even those traveling further came to help contain the situation and hopefully salvage some of the bees. More than 20 beekeepers arrived in full beekeeping gear and began to collect boxes and frames from the roadside. As beekeepers grabbed the scattered remnants, they would place frames back into the boxes where the honey and brood would hopefully attract bees to return. As boxes were salvaged, they were stacked on a pallet to continue on their journey to pollinate blueberry fields in South Dakota. The sheer number of bees did penetrate the beekeeper's suits, with many getting stung multiple times. Although they don't like being stung more than anyone else, the urgency of the situation to save as many bees as possible was a higher priority. Even those who received several bee stings were ok, and nobody ended up in the emergency room.

Bees Making a Scene

Imagine the scene with 250 million bees flying and swarming in the air. The activity must have been a sight as bees buzzed around after a violent crash. Although bees do not typically sting unless they feel threatened or are protecting their queen, the disorientation surely sent them into a frenzy where their behavior was more aggressive than usual.

Beekeepers were hopeful as more boxes were stacked and bees began to return. Blueberry fields are only one of many fruit, nut, and vegetable crops that rely on bees to pollinate them every year. The influx of bees released in the crash will re-pollinate the area where it took place, but there were significant losses of bees. The risk to the public dissipated, and the bees that were recovered continued their route to South Dakota.

Although reporters did get stung while reporting, it really is not fair for bees to be the villain in this story. Bees are critical to our pollination process, and their existence is essential to our nation's food production. The number of beekeepers that were quickly on the scene indicates the number of people who recognize the immense value bees provide in the environment. These stories do not happen too frequently, but bee transport is a regular occurrence as bees are moved to pollinate different crops. If you experience swarms of bees, it is best to leave them alone and keep your distance. Bees will not attack unless provoked, and swarms move on within hours or a day or so.

Protecting the Hive

Although beekeepers who keep honeybees harvest the honey, they take care of bees year-round. The task is rewarding and has a positive environmental impact. So, in addition to bees protecting their hives, beekeepers also take an active role in ensuring their bees are healthy and keeping things like varroa mites out of the hives. Beekeepers have apiaries where beehives are located, and this space is purposefully placed for the benefit of the bees. It is not surprising that almost two dozen beekeepers rushed to the scene in Washington yesterday and had the equipment and knowledge to safely work on getting the boxes back together. Beekeeping is a collective effort, with many organizations dedicated to raising awareness about bees and dispelling some of the myths that create fear in people who are unfamiliar with them.

Another role people play in protecting the hives is skipping toxic pesticides. Whether farming, gardening, or simply being annoyed with pests around the home, the impact of pesticides killing bees globally is a concern. Pesticide is not the only way to have effective pest control, and that is why beekeepers like D-Tek use humane removal processes when bees need to be removed from a location, including homes and businesses.