Man Says Someone Killed His 700,000 Bees
STERLING HEIGHTS (WWJ/AP) - A metro Detroit man says someone sprayed his backyard bee colonies with pesticide, killing all roughly 700,000 of the bees and destroying their honey.
Timothy Fitch told police Tuesday that the destruction took place sometime between Jan. 15 and March 8 outside his home on Haverhill Street, near Metropolitan Parkway and Van Dyke Avenue in Sterling Heights. Police said he estimated the cost of the loss at more than $14,000.
The Grosse Pointe middle school teacher told The Macomb Daily he was disgusted when he found out what happened.
"The neighbors had no problem with them and grandkids, my kids, everybody played in the backyard and the bees didn't bother anyone," he said.
Fitch, who spent several years researching honeybees before keeping them as a hobby, said he doesn't know whether he'll resume beekeeping.
The bee colonies typically survive year round, even during the freezing temperatures of a Michigan winter, Fitch said. He told police, however, that the seven wooden towers that housed the bee colonies are now worthless, since they're contaminated with a pesticide.
Sterling Heights Lt. Luke Riley said police are actively investigating, and they're seeking tips from the public in the case.
Anyone with information on the matter is asked to contact Sterling Heights police at 586-446-2801 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
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