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Jul 02, 2023

Five million bees escape after crates of hives fall off truck in Canada

Beekeepers at site near Toronto in Ontario eventually managed to recapture most of the insects, although some remained on the loose Police near Toronto have warned drivers to keep their car windows

Beekeepers at site near Toronto in Ontario eventually managed to recapture most of the insects, although some remained on the loose

Police near Toronto have warned drivers to keep their car windows closed after a truck spilled crates carrying five million bees on to a road.

Halton regional police said they received a call about 6.15am on Wednesday reporting the bee crates had come loose from a truck and spilled on to a road in Burlington, Ontario.

“We’re not sure how or what exactly took place but at some point the boxes containing bees or beehives slid off the trailer and spilled all over the road,” Constable Ryan Anderson, told CBC News.

It was “quite the scene”, Anderson said. “Crates were literally on the road and swarms of bees were flying around,” he said. “The initial beekeeper that was on scene was apparently stung a few times.”

The scene prompted police to warn drivers to close their windows as they passed by and for pedestrians to avoid the area.

About an hour after police put out a notice on social media, several beekeepers got in touch, offering to help. Six or seven beekeepers eventually arrived at the scene, Anderson said.

By about 9.15am, police said most of the five million bees had been safely collected and the crates were being hauled away. Some crates had been left behind for the uncollected bees to return to them on their own.

It is thought the bees may have been part of a pollination service, in which farmers hire beekeepers to help pollinate their crops.

A colony of honeybees in summer has about 50,000 to 80,000 bees, according to the Canadian Honey Council, a national association of beekeepers.