Millions of Honeybees Escape in Texas Following Semitrailer Accident
ORANGE COUNTY, TX – A semitrailer carrying approximately 400 honeybee hives tipped over Sunday morning, releasing millions of bees into a rural neighborhood.
Emergency responders closed roads in the area to facilitate unloading efforts and urged residents to remain indoors until crews could contain the situation. No serious injuries or bee stings have been reported, according to officials.
The owner of the hives has not yet been identified. Local beekeepers, including Christie Ray of Queen Bee Supply, arrived at the scene to assist in salvaging the hives. “The beekeeping community is a great community,” remarked Ray about the collaborative response.
Chris Moore, owner of Moore Honey, noted that around 25% of the hives may survive, dependent on the status of the queens after the accident. He highlighted the significant economic impact of losing so many hives at once, stating, “It's a big loss.”
The hives had been traveling to North Dakota when the driver took a wrong turn, leading to a crash in a neighborhood with narrow roads. Efforts are ongoing to collect stray bees, but it may take some time for the area to return to normal, according to Moore.
In related incidents, a truck carrying bees caused significant delays on an interstate in Knoxville, TN, earlier this year.