California’s Bee Crisis: A Threat to Farms, Food, and Our Future Bees in Southern California

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) - In the heart of California’s farmland, an unseen crisis is unfolding—one that could have devastating consequences for agriculture and food production. Commercial bee populations are dwindling at an alarming rate, and without these vital pollinators, an entire industry hangs in the balance.

As spring unfolds, almond orchards across California’s Central Valley burst into bloom, relying on commercial honeybees for pollination. But this year, beekeepers like Dan Luong—known as "Bee Man Dan"— are struggling to meet demand.

"Right now, most of the bees are getting ready for Bakersfield, for almond pollination. That's the whole jam for most commercial beekeepers—they’re hunting down pollination contracts," Escondido explains.

Between June 2024 and February 2025, commercial beekeepers across the U.S. reported a staggering 62% loss of their bee colonies—more than one million hives. Almond orchards alone require two colonies per acre, and with 1.4 million acres of almond farms in California, demand far exceeds supply.

The reason? A massive expansion of almond farming.

"They planted way too many almonds," Escondido says. "They took out other crops to chase almond profits, and that’s when things went sideways."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investigating the causes behind these devastating losses. Potential culprits include pesticide exposure, varroa mite infestations, disease and habitat destruction.

At the University of California, Riverside, bee geneticist Christopher Allen is studying the impact of varroa mites.

"Varroa mites are arachnids with eight legs. They attach to bees and spread deadly viruses," Allen explains.

Adding to the crisis, commercial beekeepers face a growing threat: hive theft. In 2023 alone, nearly 10,000 hives—worth $3.5 million—were stolen across California, an 87% increase in the past decade.

"People are stealing entire colonies," Allen says. "A single hive can sell for over $1,000, or be used for pollination contracts that bring in steady income."

Allen’s research suggests Southern California’s wild bee populations may hold the key to long-term solutions. Unlike commercial honeybees, wild bees show natural resistance to many of the threats wiping out managed colonies.

"We’re looking at two completely different bees. The wild bees in Southern California seem to have built-in defenses," Allen says.

Beyond agriculture, bees made headlines at the 2024 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, when a swarm disrupted a tennis match. The unexpected hero? Lance Davis, a professional bee remover, who fearlessly vacuumed up the swarm—wearing just a T-shirt.

The viral moment caught the attention of veteran TV producer Wayne Page, known for working on The Crocodile Hunter. Now, Page is producing The Killer Bee Catcher, a TV show following Davis as he wrangles aggressive Africanized honeybees across Southern California.

"If I found someone who was passionate about something dangerous, I knew it would be a hit. Then along came Lance," Page says.

Davis, who also removes bees at Coachella, Stagecoach, and BNP Paribas, has a deep respect for his work.

"Bees are the most useful insect to humankind. Without them, you wouldn’t have humanity," he says.

Bees account for at least one out of every three bites of food we eat. And, as Davis points out, they do more than pollinate fruits and vegetables—they pollinate crops that feed cattle, meaning they impact meat and dairy production, too.

The fate of California’s bees isn’t just an agricultural issue—it’s a crisis that affects us all.