An estimated 50,000 bees were killed during a “deliberate” arson at the Pittsburgh-area family-owned Bedillion Honey Farm last week, according to a post shared on the farm’s Facebook account.
“Today our hearts are heavy. On the 26th of February, at one of our bee yard locations, we witnessed the aftermath of deliberate destruction of our beehives,” the post states. “Mark and Lily were out doing routine checks on the hives, as well as providing pollen substitute patties, when they came across our bee yard at Industry, Pa burnt to the ground.
“Tens of thousands of honey bees turned to ash, along with the boxes and pallets they were once housed in. This was a significant loss of animal life, as well as the principle of our livelihood, although we intend to regroup and rebuild.”
The Bedillion family told WTAE that it estimates “a loss of roughly 50,000 bees” confirmed that a police report was filed. Lily Bedillion and her father, Mark, discovered the incident while doing an inspection.
“We rolled up to it. I was a little confused, like, where are the beehives?” she said. “When you really get to looking at it, you can see squares of ash where they burned the pallet.
“My heart dropped, my dad’s heart dropped, a pretty long moment of silence until it set in that all of our hives were caught on fire. It was heartbreaking, to say the least.”
The family said its seeking any information that can help solve the case, confirming “a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of this person or persons” is being offered.
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