Millions of Honeybees Escape in Orange County, Texas, After Semitrailer Crash
Orange County, TX—A semitrailer transporting approximately 400 beehives tipped over Sunday morning, resulting in millions of honeybees escaping into a rural neighborhood.
Emergency responders closed nearby roads and advised residents to remain indoors while crews worked to unload the trailer and recover as many hives as possible. No serious injuries or bee stings were reported, and the owner of the hives has not yet been identified.
Christie Ray, owner of Queen Bee Supply, noted that volunteers from multiple local beekeeping businesses arrived to assist in the recovery efforts. Chris Moore, owner of Moore Honey, estimated that only about 25% of the hives might survive after the crash, largely depending on the viability of the queen bees.
“Any time you lose that many in one shot, it's a big loss,” Moore stated, highlighting the financial impact of the incident on the beekeeping operation.
The trailer was en route to North Dakota when the truck driver took a wrong turn, navigating through narrow streets before the crash occurred. Local beekeepers are setting out catch boxes to recover stray bees, although it may take some time for the area to clear.
This incident follows a similar event in April, where a truck carrying bees caused traffic delays near Knoxville, Tennessee. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation.