250 million bees escape after semi-truck overturns in Washington State: ‘Don’t go anywhere near them’

NY Post ^ | 5-31-25 | Jacki Thrapp

[dynachrome]

“Bee” on alert.

Roughly 250 million bees escaped into the wild when a commercial semi-truck rolled over in Washington state, prompting officials to warn locals to stay away from the area.

The truck was hauling 70,000 pounds of honey bee hives when it overturned in a rural part of Whatcom County, just north of Seattle near the Canadian border, around 4 a.m. Friday, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.

[piytar]

Their hives have been scattered with them breaking open. Bees become very defensive.

Fair enough. Good point.

[FrankRizzo890]

“Come on girls! I have a nice home for you over here!” Or if you prefer the Poltergeist version “Come children, all are welcome!”

[Steve_Seattle]

" . . . when it overturned in a rural part of Whatcom County, just north of Seattle . . . "

Whatcom County isn't "just north of Seattle" - it's about 80 miles north of Seattle and separated by two other counties.

[Billthedrill]

[PrairieLady2]

Unfortunately, many people tend to flail their limbs as they jump around and scream in panic, or the start swatting them...
If you smell like flowers or candy, they will be attracted to you.

They used to crawl on my hands while refilling the hummingbird feeders as they tried to get the sugar water for their winter supply. They tickle.

I don’t usually have trouble with hornets either unless they manage to entangle themselves in my clothes.

Leave them all alone. No swatting or flailing. Get command of your own emotions and behavior so that the critters don’t see you as a threat to their lives and safety.

[Vaduz]

No skid marks must have been speeding.

[piytar]

Unfortunately, many people tend to flail their limbs as they jump around and scream in panic, or the start swatting them...

Yup.

They used to crawl on my hands while refilling the hummingbird feeders as they tried to get the sugar water for their winter supply. They tickle.

Yup again. I had them land on me, too. Kinda tickle. :)

I don’t usually have trouble with hornets either unless they manage to entangle themselves in my clothes.

Actually had a few hornets just randomly land on and sting me. To be fair, both times I was in a very noisy raucous crowd. Things were probably annoyed or scared. Hornet stings do hurt a bit more than bee stings, but not much.

Leave them all alone. No swatting or flailing. Get command of your own emotions and behavior so that the critters don’t see you as a threat to their lives and safety.

Exactly.