Bee Thieves Pose a Big Threat to California's Almond Industry

Every year most American beekeepers send their hives to California's almond groves. The bees are needed to pollinate the almond trees, and since demand for almonds is high, business is booming. But there is dark side to the trade-off; hives have been going missing with increasing regularity. Beekeepers from around the country trust the farmers who rent the bees to return them. Less than 200 hives were stolen in 2014 and 2015 combined, but that number jumped to 1,695 in 2016. The value of the bees can make theft pay; the theft of 2,500 hives worth $875,000 was solved in 2017. And since the almond farms are desperate for bees, beekeepers keep sending hives and hoping for the best.