CARLISLE, Pennsylvania — Police in Carlisle, Pennsylvania are investigating after they say someone stole approximately 60,000 bees from GIANT corporate headquarters.
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The three stolen hives contained bee colonies and were removed from the headquarters between Jan. 28-30, The Patriot-News reported.
In a press release, Jessica Groves, Community Impact Manager for The GIANT Company, Jessica Groves, said that “bees are a critical part of our food supply chain, and having these hives was a way for us to to help deal with the declining bee population here in our local community,” WHP-TV reported.
GIANT has alerted beekeepers in the area to monitor their own hives following the theft, WGAL reported. Bees have a monetary value of approximately $2,000.
Bees were introduced to the company’s headquarters two years ago, as part of a pollinator-friendly solar field to help provide clean energy and support bee and pollinator populations, WHTM reported.
Last year, beekeepers in Pennsylvania reported losing 41% of their hive population, which is lower than the national average loss of about 45.5% between April 2020 and April 2021, The Associated reported. Press. The loss of bee populations is concerning because about a third of the United States’ food supply depends on bees to pollinate plants, The Patriot-News reported.
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