Rowdy Freeman

A lot of beekeepers lost a lot of hives. More than normal.

A lot of beekeepers lost a lot of hives. More than normal.

There's about 2.3 million honeybee hives needed for almond pollination in the state of California. There's only a little over 800,000 hives that are considered residents of California. So all those additional hives have to be trucked in from all the various states as far as Florida.

There's about 2.3 million honeybee hives needed for almond pollination in the state of California. There's only a little over 800,000 hives that are considered residents of California. So all those additional hives have to be trucked in from all the various states as far as Florida.

Feeding them, making sure they're healthy, making sure that they're up to the hive strength required of the contracts.

Feeding them, making sure they're healthy, making sure that they're up to the hive strength required of the contracts.

Hive theft is a very difficult case to investigate.

Hive theft is a very difficult case to investigate.

You have to know how to handle bees, you have to know how to move them, you have to have the right equipment. So it's almost always someone that has been involved in the beekeeping industry.

You have to know how to handle bees, you have to know how to move them, you have to have the right equipment. So it's almost always someone that has been involved in the beekeeping industry.

It's very difficult for someone of the general public to identify a thief versus the legitimate hive owner.

It's very difficult for someone of the general public to identify a thief versus the legitimate hive owner.

Beekeeping is very hard work. You do all that work and then someone comes in and steals them out from underneath of you and makes the money that you were planning on receiving. It's a big punch to the gut. Here's Steve again.

Beekeeping is very hard work. You do all that work and then someone comes in and steals them out from underneath of you and makes the money that you were planning on receiving. It's a big punch to the gut. Here's Steve again.

Like the conferences and stuff that you attend where the beekeepers from all over the place are there. You just never know. When I'm talking about hive theft and stuff like that, I know a lot of the people in the room, but there are some people that I don't know. Because we don't know who is stealing these hives, you just never know.

Like the conferences and stuff that you attend where the beekeepers from all over the place are there. You just never know. When I'm talking about hive theft and stuff like that, I know a lot of the people in the room, but there are some people that I don't know. Because we don't know who is stealing these hives, you just never know.

Well, it was definitely a coordinated effort.

Well, it was definitely a coordinated effort.

So they'd go in under darkness in those early morning hours, depending on how many hives they're planning on stealing.

So they'd go in under darkness in those early morning hours, depending on how many hives they're planning on stealing.