A semi-truck carrying an estimated 250 million bees overturned on US Highway 191 near Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday, spilling thousands of damaged beehives across the roadway and causing significant traffic disruption.
The accident led to swarms of agitated bees descending on the area. A Gallatin County sheriff's deputy sustained nine bee stings while directing traffic around the crash site. One witness, Dalton Broadus of West Yellowstone, Montana, reported that bees began attacking his vehicle when he stopped near the scene.
Emergency services, including two tow trucks and a beekeeper in a protective suit, arrived to assess the situation and begin recovering the hives. The highway remained open, but authorities advised travelers to expect delays and traffic control measures as cleanup efforts continued.
Michael Jordan, a beekeeper and venture capitalist from Cheyenne, described the incident as a significant loss. He estimated that between 40 to 50 percent of the bees might be salvageable. A single bee box, which can contain between 75,000 and 125,000 bees, costs approximately $500 and can generate about $2,000 in honey revenue. A truckload could contain up to 1,000 such boxes.
Jordan, who has experience with similar salvage operations, emphasized the critical nature of the first few hours following such an accident. He noted that coordination between the trucking company, insurance providers, and hive owners is essential for an effective recovery. A designated manager on-site would oversee the problem-solving process.
The cleanup effort is potentially complicated by the accident occurring within a national park. Jordan indicated that the trucking company, insurers, and hive owners would likely need to coordinate closely with the National Park Service, which may impose additional requirements or penalties. He suggested that delays in mitigation could lead to further losses for the owners, in addition to property damage and potential liabilities with the NPS.