The monoculture California almond production requires temporarily importing over a billion honeybees ever season to pollinate almond blossoms. By removing every other flowering plant within thousands-of-acres (conserving water and reducing competition) the almond growers have eliminated all natural pollinators from the environment.
Combined with colony losses from pesticides, loss of habitat and the stresses of transporting hives across the continent for pollinating specific crops, the value of beehives makes them an increasingly tempting target for thieves. A recent article in Bee Culture Magazine states that The California State Beekeepers Association partnership with a private detective agency to track and recover stolen beehives.
The unfortunate reality is that an unobtrusive wireless GPS tracker (like an Apple “Airtag”) would make a excellent addition to any hive.