A commercial truck crash in Washington State just south of Aldergrove set an estimated 14 million bees loose Friday morning.
Initially, estimates by police put it at 250 million but that was changed after consultation with bee keepers who rendered assistance.
While there were social media reports of increased bee activity on the Canadian side in the wake of the accident, Aldergrove beekeeper Bryn Jones, of Honey Haven, was skeptical.
Jones has hives close to the border, "a literal stone's throw from 0 Avenue and up from where the crash site was," and he could actually see the site.
If large numbers of U.S. bees had crossed the border, he expects he would have seen increased activity.
"It's what's called a swarm gathering hive. It's unoccupied, but it has some attractant in it and had there been a big influx across the line, they would have come to see me, but I didn't see any."
He said after a call for help went out, dozens of beekeepers went to help set up hives that would accommodate "these bees who were unseated from their regular place."
He didn't go, because "I was too busy with my own Canadian bees."
Jones explained bees are used to pollinate crops like blueberries, and transporting them has become common in the U.S. and Canada.
Whatcom County Sheriff鈥檚 Office (WCSO) told residents to avoid the area "due to the potential of bee escape and swarming," in an online notice.
While there was no general health risk to the public, anyone who was allergic to bee stings was advised to take precautions.
WCSO spokesperson Amy Cloud said some officers did suffer bee stings.
"Several first responders were stung, even some not near the hot zone" Cloud told the 黑马磁力.
However the office has no reports of anyone having "a serious reaction or requiring medical care," Cloud added.
A truck hauling an estimated 70,000 pounds of honey bee hives containing live bees overturned on Weidkamp Road near Lynden at 4 a.m.
Weidkamp was closed between Loomis Trail Road and West Badger and the public was advised to avoid the area and stay away at least 200 yards from the crash scene, which was just a few minute's drive from the Aldergrove-Lynden border crossing.
Whatcom County Sheriff鈥檚 Office (WCSO) deputies, Whatcom County Public Works, and several bee experts responded.
Master beekeepers were called in to assist in re-setting the box hives, the sheriff's office said.
The plan was to allow the bees to re-hive and find their queen bee. "The goal is to save as many of the bees as possible" a WCSO press release said.
Weidkamp remained closed until Saturday afternoon.
