A bee farmer got stung by a theft this week after someone stole about 600,000 bees from his property near Innisfail, Alta.

"The biggest question is why," said Kevin Nixon, the owner of the Nixon Honey Farm.

A farmer in Red Deer County is offering a reward after hundreds of thousands of his honey bees were stolen. (Andy Duback/Associated Press)

'"Somebody has to have the knowledge or experience to go ahead and lift, by hand, 12 hives on to a truck and walk away with them. They are certainly going to be agitated when you handle them, and they are heavy — there's honey on them."

Nixon estimates the stolen honey and bee equipment is worth about $10,000.

He's offering a $1,000 reward for information that helps find the stolen bees.

"This is our livestock. For some farmers it's cattle, or other animals, and for us it's bees," said Nixon.

"It's our livelihood and I don't know why people would feel the need to take that."

He says Innisfail RCMP are investigating the theft. Anyone with information is asked to contact them at 403-227-3341, or send a note to the farm through its website.