Millions of Honeybees Escape After Semitrailer Tipping in Orange County, Texas
ORANGE COUNTY, Texas — A semitrailer carrying approximately 400 beehives tipped over early Sunday morning, resulting in millions of honeybees escaping into a rural neighborhood.
According to Emergency Officials in Orange County, roads were closed as crews worked to unload the trailer and recover as many hives as possible. Residents were advised to remain indoors while emergency services managed the situation.
No injuries or bee stings have been reported at this time. Authorities have not disclosed the owner of the hives.
Witnesses reported that local beekeepers, including Christie Ray of Queen Bee Supply, mobilized to assist in salvaging the bees. “They help each other; that's what they do,” Ray noted, highlighting the strong community spirit among beekeepers.
Chris Moore, owner of Moore Honey, estimated that only about 25% of the 408 hives are likely to survive the incident. The survival rate mainly depends on the condition of the queen bees after the crash. “It's a big loss,” Moore stated, addressing the economic impact on the beekeeping business.
The semitrailer was on a journey to North Dakota when the driver took a wrong turn into a neighborhood with narrow roads, causing the vehicle to overturn while trying to navigate a corner. Local beekeepers are deploying catch boxes to collect any remaining strays, although the cleanup may take time.
This incident follows a previous crash in April involving a truck full of bees that caused delays on an interstate near Knoxville, Tennessee.