'Bee' kind: West Center Sand saves a colony of honeybees

'Bee' kind: West Center Sand saves a colony of honeybees

The team at West Center Sand was certainly "buzzing" with excitement.

The team at West Center Sand was certainly "buzzing" with excitement.

During a visit to the Nebraska site in late fall, an electrical contractor noticed a cluster of bees gathered beside his company's storage unit. What initially seemed like a minor nuisance quickly revealed itself to be something far more significant: a thriving honeybee hive tucked into a roll of electrical wire.

Once the discovery was reported, Plant Manager Jeffery Brink immediately secured the area, alerted crews and contractors, and instructed all vendors and visitors to avoid the scene until the situation could be fully assessed.

"We reacted quickly because safety is always the first priority," Brink said. "The moment we realized the bees were active, we made sure everyone on site understood the restricted area and why it was important to keep their distance. You never want uncertainty around something like this."

Rather than default to extermination, Brink and his team took a more thoughtful approach. From a safe distance, they observed that the bees appeared calm and contained. They then called in a specialist to confirm the species and determine the best path forward. When the beekeeper identified the insects as honeybees, the decision became clear.

Honeybees are essential pollinators, critical to surrounding ecosystems and agriculture, and play an irreplaceable role in human well-being by supporting plant growth, food production and biodiversity. Because of this, they are often relocated rather than removed to prevent population decline.

"When we learned they were honeybees, that changed everything," Brink said. "There was no question in my mind that relocation was the clear path we needed to take. Not only is it the right thing to do environmentally, but it reflects the kind of stewardship our teams practice every day."

Soon, local beekeepers from Gilly's Gold arrived and began the careful process of opening the hive and assessing its condition.

After inspecting its structure, they estimated the colony was less than a year old, home to more than 20,000 bees, and, if left in place, unlikely to survive the harsh winter months.

Instead of relying on chemicals to remove the bees, Gilly's Gold uses smoke to calm the bees, which creates a safer environment for all involved during and after removal. The practice also prevents new bees from being attracted to the location in the future, as removing the hive eliminates the colony's scent and pheromones.

With the colony now safely rehomed and under specialized care, the bees have a far greater chance of contributing to local pollination come spring.

"We had no doubt that relocation was the right thing to do for the environment as well as our team," Brink said. "This decision aligned with environmental best practices and Martin Marietta's commitment to sustainability."