/ A Buzz at Terminal 1

June 22, 2026

Terminal 1 was abuzz recently, and not solely due to the replacement dock construction nearing its final stages.

In late May, a swarm of honeybees congregated on a stack of rebar in the dock construction staging area around lunchtime. Even with the demands of a busy construction schedule, port construction inspector Ron Williams recognized the need to quickly pause work and contact the Port of Vancouver USA environmental team. The port has made strong efforts to support pollinators in recent years and is even creating habitat throughout the port footprint.

The team then reached out to the Clark County Beekeepers Association (CCBA), and within 30 minutes a local beekeeper was on site with a mobile hive. Dedicated to supporting and promoting beekeeping in Southwest Washington, the CCBA maintains a network of volunteer swarm responders who safely collect and relocate honeybee swarms when they appear in unexpected places.

Using a soft brush, the beekeeper gently coaxed the bees into the mobile hive. Once she observed the bees beginning to “fan,” lifting their hind ends and rapidly flapping their wings, she knew the transfer was successful. The fan behavior signals that the queen bee is safely inside the hive, and worker bees are spreading her pheromones to guide the rest of the swarm home.

Soon, the bees began marching into their new temporary home before being transported to an appropriate permanent location. After the relocation was complete, Terminal 1 construction activities were able to safely resume.

While unexpected, the bee rescue highlights just one of the ways environmental stewardship is at the center of port operations.