Thousands of bees killed in arson at Bedillion bee yard
On Feb. 26, Mark Bedillion and his daughter, Lily, drove to a bee yard they operate on a property in Industry, Beaver County.
Bee season is underway, and the pair were making a routine visit to the bee yard – one of more than 25 bee yards Bedillion Honey Farm owns across Southwestern Pennsylvania – to check on the bees.
But after a trek through a wooded area to the site of the bee yard, they discovered that about 50 beehives, and tens of thousands of bees, had been set on fire and destroyed.
“It was heartbreaking,” said Sara Bedillion, who, with her husband, Mark, started the apiary more than 20 years ago. “Lily was excited and she was wearing a GoPro camera because she wanted to record. But when they got there, there were just black spots where everything was supposed to be. It was burned to the ground. It was a huge amount of hives to lose.”
Bedillion said the bees, along with about 64 pallets that housed the bees, and other equipment were lost in the fire.
The Beaver City Police Department is investigating the fire.
The family runs a retail shop in Hickory, where they sell honey, beeswax candles, soaps and lotions, beekeeping supplies, honeybees, and more. They also offer beekeeping lessons.
The Bedillions filed a police report and are offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information is asked to contact Mark Bedillion at 724-747-4645.
No surveillance cameras were at the scene, and the authorities don’t know if there was a single person or more who set the fire.
Bedillion said she believes the fire was set deliberately.
“Whoever did it had to walk pretty far down through a wooded area to get there. The bee yard is on private property in a remote area,” she said. “We have no idea why someone would do that.”
Bedillion said the fire caused a “significant loss of animal life” and is a blow to the business.
“It’s mean, it’s cruel, you know? They’re alive,” said Bedillion. “They’re sweet animals, they take good care of each other. If you could get close to them and watch what they do, I think most people would form an affection for them.”
Bedillion said the bee yard had been at the Industry location for several years, and there had been no complaints about the bees.
The destruction of the hives happened just as the bee season begins.
Each beehive can produce as much as 100 pounds of honey annually, although that varies depending on conditions.
“The bees are at the very start of their growth season,” said Bedillion. “This time of year, the bees start making more bees. At the start of spring, we go out and look at everything, take feed patties to see who needs them and who doesn’t, and kind of get a game plan for the growth season.”
Bedillion said her family has been overwhelmed by the public’s response to the fire.
On Saturday, the store was crowded with visitors, including some from Beaver County, who wanted to show their support for the business.
A neighbor started a GoFundMe campaign that had raised more than $24,700 as of Monday.
“Everyone has been so supportive and kind. There were people who made the trip from Beaver who said, ‘Please bring them back; we liked having them there,'” said Bedillion. “That was really kind. We were overwhelmed by how much it mattered to people, and we really appreciate that. It has encouraged us, after getting knocked down, and it has invigorated us.”
Fred Miller, president of the Tri-County Beekeepers Association in California, said incidents of beehive vandalism and arson have occurred across the country in recent years.
“It happens all over the country. It’s tragic because people don’t realize the importance of honeybees,” said Miller, noting that honeybees pollinate an estimated 80% of crops in the United States and are considered livestock by the USDA. “I hope the culprits are caught. It results in a monetary loss as well as an environmental loss.”
The Bedillions plan to rebuild the Industry bee yard, and will install security cameras.
“We’re going to make a really beautiful bee yard and everybody can see what they helped us rebuild,” said Bedillion.
The GoFundMe page can be found at www.gofundme.com/f/rebuild-bedillion-honey-farms-after-tragic-loss/.