More than 50 colonies of honeybees are dead at a Stafford County honey farm. And the farm’s owner believes the bees were intentionally poisoned.
On April 14, Stafford County police responded to Rock Hill Honey Bee Farms after owner Jerry Mattiaccio found thousands of his bees deceased. According to a Facebook post, someone trespassed on property, locked the gates with a combination lock, and poisoned the colonies.
“None of these actions could be accidental. This was clearly intentional hoping to injure my operation,” Mattiaccio said in the post.
The farm is offering a $2,500 reward for information “leading to the arrest, indictment, and conviction” of the perpetrator. Local restaurant Mason Dixon Cafe is matching that amount, for a total reward of $5,000.
The impacted honeybee colonies represented about half of those on the farm. And the loss will cost Rock Hill between $15,000 and $20,000, Potomac Local News reported.
In lieu of a crowdfunding campaign, the post urges supporters to purchase honey from the farm. “If you want to help, please come to our Farmers Markets in Stafford, Spotsylvania, Manassas, Lorton, One Loudon, Falls Church, and more and purchase a pound of honey from us,” Mattiaccio said. “That helps both of us.”
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
