In a shocking twist of events, experts claim to have cracked the case behind the mysterious demise of approximately three million bees within a mere 24-hour span at a buzzing bee sanctuary in San Diego. The scandal unfolded back in September when beekeepers stumbled upon alarming scenes of ‘piles and piles’ of deceased bees at the Northern San Diego bee haven.

The devastating revelation disclosed that a staggering 95 percent of the sanctuary’s bee population succumbed, leaving a mere two colonies struggling for survival. Heartbroken sanctuary workers, who had invested copious amounts of “love, sweat, and bee stings” into rescuing and rehabilitating the bees, were left in shock and despair.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) swiftly launched an investigation into the mass bee fatalities, and their findings have now been unveiled. According to the USDA, the cause of the bee apocalypse traces back to a ‘double lethal’ dose of poison from a termiticide, banned for outdoor use.

The perplexing aspect of this tragedy lies in how the bees came into contact with the lethal poison. No reports indicated the use of the toxic substance in the vicinity of the sanctuary. Suspicion among the staff has turned to possible malicious intent, with Dominic Peck, a sanctuary worker, expressing his concerns to ABC10: “We suspect malice because all nearby orchards had no reported use of Fipronil, and nearby apiaries did not have positioning either. It seems to be directed towards us. We cannot say that for sure, but we are moving out of the area to be safe.”

In a recent update posted on a GoFundMe page dedicated to the San Diego Bee Sanctuary, organiser Paul Gunn shared the USDA’s conclusions: “The USDA has finally conducted their report, and their findings conclude that the poison used was a termiticide, Fipronil. This chemical is banned for agriculture and landscaping purposes. While we’re grateful to know what caused our loss, we’re uneasy about why this happened.”

In response to the USDA’s findings, the sanctuary is collaborating with the government agency, Master Beekeepers of CA, and local beekeepers to eradicate the poison from any contaminated equipment. The GoFundMe campaign, initiated after the tragic bee deaths, has garnered an astounding $12,170 at the time of writing, surpassing the initial $10,000 target. The funds raised are intended to aid the sanctuary in procuring new hives and recovering from the heart-wrenching loss of its beloved bees. The buzzing bee mystery continues to unfold, leaving the world perplexed and sympathetic to the plight of the San Diego Bee Sanctuary.