Nearly 2 million bees escaped in southeast Texas after a semitruck hauling beehives overturned near Mauriceville.
The crash happened Sunday in a rural part of Orange County, according to WIS, which carried the KBTX/Gray News report.
Photos shared by Christie Ray of Queen Bee Supply showed beekeepers and first responders working around the overturned truck as crews secured the hives.
Orange County Emergency Services District 4 warned nearby residents to stay indoors while crews moved the hives onto other transport trucks.
Beekeepers Helped Secure the Hives
The escaped bees came from a truck carrying managed beehives, rather than a backyard swarm or a colony inside a wall. KBTX reported that local beekeepers helped at the scene as crews worked to recover the bees and load the hives for transport.
The hives were expected to be taken to a local honey farm after the crash response. No injuries were reported in the initial local coverage.
Residents Were Told To Stay Indoors
The stay-indoors warning gave crews space to work around thousands of disturbed insects and damaged transport boxes. The CDC/NIOSH says people attacked by several stinging insects should run away, go indoors if possible, or move toward a shaded area. The agency also says people should avoid jumping into water because some insects may hover above the surface.
CDC/NIOSH also advises people to remain calm and still around a single stinging insect, since swatting can increase the chance of being stung.
Bee Trouble Near a Home Needs Space First
The Texas crash was larger than a typical yard problem, but the same caution applies when bees gather near a driveway, garden, shed, pasture gate, porch, or fence line.
The University of Georgia Extension says honey bee swarms are usually relatively gentle while clustered, but residents should keep pedestrians, children, and pets away.
If a swarm creates a real risk to people or animals, the extension guidance says a local beekeeper may be able to remove it.
Farm Roads and Rural Properties Can See Unusual Hazards
For rural homeowners, gardeners, and pet owners, the crash adds a different kind of bee warning. A sudden swarm near a property can come from transport, farm work, apiaries, or roadside accidents, not just a nest in a tree or wall.
When authorities are moving damaged hives nearby, the safest place for residents and pets is indoors until crews clear the area.
After the scene is secure, homeowners can check outdoor spaces for lingering bee activity near water sources, animal pens, trash areas, sheds, and garden paths before returning to normal yard work.