An incident in Texas involved a semi-trailer loaded with hundreds of beehives that overturned…

An incident in Texas involved a semi-trailer loaded with hundreds of beehives that overturned after the driver took a wrong turn and lost control while navigating a tight curve. On June 27, 2026, millions of bees escaped, prompting a large emergency response in Orange County. Authorities, beekeepers, and volunteers worked for hours to recover the colonies and mitigate risks to local residents.

The accident occurred in Mauriceville, east of Houston, while transporting between 406 and 408 beehives to North Dakota. The impact destroyed many hives, allowing millions of honeybees to swarm into the surrounding area, clustering on trees, fences, and poles. Estimates suggest that over 24 million bees may have escaped, with each hive containing between 60,000 and 80,000 bees.