A significant number of bees were lost due to a beehive fire at a farm near Pittsburgh, claims the owner of a family-run business.
During a routine check on Thursday, the owner of Bedillion Honey Farm and his daughter discovered the “aftermath of deliberate destruction” of their beehives. They shared this distressing news in a post on Facebook.
“Tens of thousands of bees have been reduced to ashes, along with the boxes and pallets that once housed them,” the farm stated, accompanying their message with photos showing the disastrous conditions of the hives.
“We will reorganize and rebuild, but this loss of animal life and our livelihood is huge,” they added.
Mark and Sarah Bedillion reported that 50 hives were intentionally ignited in a remote area, leading to around 50,000 bees dying in what they described as an arson attack.
“When we arrived, we were a little uncertain about where the hive had been,” said Lily, the couple’s daughter. “If you look closely, there are patches of ash where the pallets burned.”
“There was a heavy silence as my father’s and my hearts sank seeing all the hives ablaze. It was just heartbreaking,” she noted.
The Bedillion family operates a small store in Hickory, where they sell honey, candles, and soap among other products.
“It felt like I was punched in the gut,” Sarah expressed. “They killed our bees—about 50 hives total, which means tens of thousands of bees gone.”
The farm set up a GoFundMe to help cover the loss of their hives and equipment, which has already raised over $23,500 of its $35,000 goal by Sunday evening.
In response to the incident, they have filed a police report and are asking for assistance from anyone who might know anything about the case. They’re also offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the fire.
“We are deeply moved by the support we’ve received after this tragic event in Industry, Pennsylvania. Our family truly appreciates all the kindness and messages,” they shared in an update.
“Despite feeling down, we are continuing to care for our remaining hives as part of our usual spring program. We’ll keep everyone updated as more information becomes available.”
