Reward offered for suspects accused of damaging dozens of beehives, setting them on fire

Police are searching for the person responsible for dumping dozens of beehives out and setting them on fire in Alvin over the weekend. Police are searching for the person responsible for dumping dozens of beehives out and setting them on fire in Alvin over the weekend. Photo: Brazoria County Beekeepers Association Photo: Brazoria County Beekeepers Association Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Reward offered for suspects accused of damaging dozens of beehives, setting them on fire 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

Police are searching for suspects after the Brazoria County Beekeepers Association (BCBA) said someone dumped out dozens of beehives and set them on fire at a county bee yard in Alvin over the weekend.

According to a Facebook post from the BCBA, a report was filed after volunteers made the discovery Saturday morning. Dozens of hives could be seen strewn across the bee yard, some looked reduced to ashes. One brood frame was seen floating in a nearby lake with bees still caring for it.

"It's bad enough to think in today's world this would happen but dumping them over and then setting fire to them is beyond comprehension," the BCBA said in the post.

According to BCBA president Steven Brackmann, there are 30,000 bees to a colony on average. He estimates nearly 20 hives were damaged and half a million bees were killed.

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A reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest. Brackmann said the BCBA will decide on the amount for the reward by Monday afternoon. The bees that were not killed were recovering as of Saturday.

Brackmann said he views the crime as more than just an act of vandalism.

"Vandalism is one thing," Brackmann said. "But for someone to go in and spend their time dumping over those hives and lighting them them on fire...I think it's someone that doesn't like beekeepers or bees."

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Rebecca Hennes covers community news. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | rebecca.hennes@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message

