In a startling incident, approximately 250 million bees escaped into the wild after a semi-truck overturned in Whatcom County, Washington, early Friday morning. The truck, which was transporting over 70,000 pounds of honeybee hives, rolled over around 4 a.m. near the Canadian border, prompting immediate warnings from local authorities.

The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office reported that the hives broke free around 9 a.m., leading to a swarm of bees dispersing in the area. Residents were advised to stay at least 600 feet away from the scene to avoid potential stings. “No one could have predicted 250 MILLION BEES would be loose on a road,” the Washington Emergency Management Division stated on social media, urging the public to keep their distance.

Emergency crews quickly mobilized, calling in over two dozen beekeepers to help manage the situation. Local beekeeper Derek Condit described the recovery efforts, stating, “We’re literally grabbing a bee box and then grabbing the frames that contain the honey, the bees and the brood, putting them back in the box and restacking them on pallets to hopefully have some survival rate to work with here.”

Matt Klein, the Deputy Director of Emergency Management for the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, confirmed the scale of the incident, saying, “When they said 200 million bees, they meant it.” Klein himself experienced the sting of the situation, having been stung multiple times, with stingers still attached to his ears later that night. He reassured the public, “But they’re honeybees, so the sting isn’t as severe as some other bees, so, so far, everybody is fine.”

Journalists covering the event also faced the wrath of the bees. KOMO reporter Denise Whitaker reported being stung while standing approximately 300 yards from the overturned truck.

By Friday night, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office announced that on-scene work had concluded. They confirmed that the hive boxes from the truck were recovered, restored, and returned to use. “By morning, most bees should have returned to their hives and those responsible for their delivery will be in charge,” the sheriff’s office stated.

Despite the chaos, officials noted that there is no general health risk to the public. However, they advised individuals with allergies to bee stings to consult the State Department of Health’s resources. The truck was reportedly transporting the bees to South Dakota after they had completed pollination duties in a local blueberry field.

Whatcom County is known for its efforts to protect bee populations, being home to Bee City USA in Bellingham. This incident marks a significant event in the region, which previously made headlines as the first location in the U.S. to discover a murder hornet nest in 2020.