Table of Contents
In Burlington, Ontario, Canada, a truck carrying crates of beehives accidentally tipped over and released five million bees.
The accident happened on Wednesday morning at around 6 a.m. The crates holding the beehives fell because the straps holding them became loose. The bees then spilled onto the road.
Burlington is located south of Toronto near Lake Ontario and Niagara Falls.
The police quickly warned people on social media to stay away from the area. Fortunately, about six or seven local beekeepers volunteered to help collect the bees safely.
In just a few hours, most of the bees were back in their hives and crates, and they were put back on the truck, according to local police officer Ryan Anderson.
One of the people who helped was a local Canadian beekeeper named Michael Barber. He owns Tri-City Bee Rescue. The bees were being transported after being used for pollination. Usually, beekeepers move bees to their winter homes around this time of year.
The accident happened because the truck driver quickly turned to avoid hitting a deer. There were about 40 hives on the truck and about 20 of them fell off.
After about four hours of cleaning, some crates were left next to the road. They beekeepers hoped that some bees that flew away would return to their queen in the hive.
Nobody was seriously hurt during this event, but the first beekeeper to arrive at the accident was stung by bees multiple times.
Vocabulary
- Truck – A big vehicle/car for carrying/ transporting things
- Crate – a strong box
- Beehive – A home where bees live and make honey;
- Accidentally – By chance or without intending to; When something happens by mistake
- Tip over – To fall over; When something falls or leans to one side
- Release – To let go or set free; to let out into the world
- Million – 1,000,000 – one-million
- Bee – 🐝; a yellow and black flying insect
- Strap – A strong band or rope that holds things together;
- Loose – When something is not tight or secure; Not tight
- Spill – To fall or flow out of a container; When something falls out and makes a mess
- Located – to be in a particular place; to be found in a specific spot; to be ‘there’;
- Warn – to tell someone about something bad or dangerous that might happen; alert; notify
- Social media – Websites and apps that allow people to communicate and share information online (Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, etc.)
- Stay away – To keep a distance and not get close; To not go near something
- Fortunately – luckily; thankfully; it’s good luck that
- Local – related to or connected to a specific/particular place; existing in or belonging to the area that you are talking about.
- Beekeeper – A person who takes care of bees;
- Volunteer – To offer to help without getting paid;
- Collect – bring together; gather; take in
- According to – as ‘someone’ said; as stated by ‘someone’; in the opinion of ‘someone’
- Transport – to move goods or people from one place to another
- Pollination – When bees help plants make fruits and flowers; The process of transferring pollen from one flower to another
- Avoid – stay away from; keep away; try not to do
- Deer – A wild animal with antlers; 🦌
- Queen – The leader bee in a beehive
- Sting – To pierce something with a sharp pointed body part; When a bee or wasp pokes you and it hurts
- Multiple – more than one; several; numerous; many; some
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- What do you think could have been done to prevent the accident with the truck carrying beehives?
- How important do you think it is for the police to use social media to warn people about potential dangers like the bee incident?
- Why do you think the local beekeepers and volunteers decided to help collect the bees after the accident?
- How would you feel if you were in the area when the bees were released? What would you do to stay safe?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
In Burlington, Ontario, _____, a truck carrying crates of beehives accidentally tipped over and _____ five million bees.
The accident _____ on Wednesday morning at around 6 a.m. The crates holding the beehives _____ because the straps holding them became _____. The bees then spilled onto the road.
Burlington is _____ south of Toronto near Lake Ontario and Niagara Falls.
The police _____ warned people on social media to stay away from the area. Fortunately, about six or seven _____ beekeepers volunteered to help collect the bees _____.
In just a _____ hours, most of the bees were back in their hives and crates, and they were _____ back on the truck, according to local _____ officer Ryan Anderson.
One of the people _____ helped was a local Canadian beekeeper named _____ Barber. He owns Tri-City Bee Rescue. The bees were _____ transported after being used for pollination. _____, beekeepers move bees to their winter homes around _____ time of year.
The accident happened because the _____ driver quickly turned to avoid hitting a deer. There were about 40 _____ on the truck and about 20 of them _____ off.
After about four _____ of cleaning, some crates were left next to the road. The beekeepers _____ that some bees that flew away would return to their _____ in the hive.
Nobody was seriously _____ during this event, but the first beekeeper to arrive at the accident _____stung by bees multiple times.
