Juveniles Arrested For Destroying Half A Million Bees Effectively Wiping Out Sioux City Honey Business

The damage to 50 beehives at Wild Hill Honey farm in Sioux City resulted in the honey bees freezing to death.

Justin and Tori Engelhardt own Wild Hill Honey, and they found the damage Thursday morning

When they went to dust the snow off their 50 hives in a grove on their west Sioux City property.

Wild Hill Honey's owners said they had caused $60,000 (£43,400) of damage and called the crime "completely senseless."

"They knocked over every single hive, killing all the bees. They wiped us out completely."

Englehardt conceded the outlook "looked really hopeless" and doubted the business could survive such a large financial hit.

Justin Englehardt said he was amazed by the number of people who flooded his phone with calls and texts and donated to online Go Fund Me accounts established in the couple's names.

The losses faced by Mr. Engelhardt and his wife drew national and international attention.

police were able to track down the suspects with the help of tip-offs from the public.

The damage was not covered by insurance.

But the public, outraged by the senseless act of vandalism, raised tens of thousands of dollars online for the owners, Justin and Tori Englehardt. As of 7:30 p.m. Friday, a Go Fund Me account approved by the Englehardts had raised about $23,800 from 649 donors.

The juveniles, who are 12 and 13 years old, were not identified by police.

They have been charged with three felonies — first-degree criminal mischief, agricultural animal facilities offenses, and third-degree burglary, as well as misdemeanor possession of burglar's tools.