Millions of Bees Swarm Texas Neighborhood After 18-Wheeler Overturns
A rural neighborhood near the Louisiana border spent part of the weekend on lockdown after a semitrailer hauling hundreds of beehives flipped over, releasing an estimated 24 million honeybees into the surrounding streets.
The crash happened Sunday morning, June 21, in the Colony Lane and Colony Drive area of Mauriceville, an unincorporated community in Orange County, according to Orange County Emergency Services District 4 (OCESD4). The truck, which was carrying 406 hives, overturned during stormy weather, prompting officials to urge nearby residents to stay indoors.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office and ESD4 units responded to the crash, and the back portion of the neighborhood was closed to traffic during the response.
Rather than simply exterminate the swarm, local beekeepers mobilized to save as many colonies as possible. Christie Ray, who owns nearby Queen Bee Supply, said volunteers from three or four other beekeeping businesses in the area came to the crash scene to help. Footage she recorded showed first responders and apiarists in protective suits working through dense, swarming clouds of bees to right the overturned trailer and recover the hives.
Crews worked to transfer the hives onto transport trucks bound for a local honey farm, and by a later update, the trailer was about 75% unloaded. In total, about 406 hives were eventually gathered by local beekeepers and moved to the honey farm. Other area keepers also set out catch boxes to round up any stragglers, though officials cautioned it would likely take time for the insects to fully clear the area.
No bee stings or serious injuries were immediately reported, and as of the latest updates, the condition of the truck driver and the total number of stings suffered by residents and first responders remained unknown. Officials have not identified the owner of the hives.
Orange County officials thanked residents for their patience as the cleanup wrapped up. “We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation as crews work to safely resolve this incident,” fire officials said in a statement, noting that most of the bees had since been safely relocated to area apiaries.
