Crass stupidity in North Dakota

Ten beekeepers and a chemical company have been fined a total of nearly $190,000 for the unapproved use of sodium cyanide in North Dakota. Sodium cyanide has legal uses in mining, pharmaceuticals and chrome-plating, but beekeepers have been using it illegally as a pesticide. It turns into a deadly gas when it gets wet.

The beekeepers' behaviour sees to have been unbelievably stupid:

the beekeepers would mix a plastic ice cream bucket full of hot water and sulfuric acid, throw in a handful of sodium cyanide and run.

The investigation into the stray barrels of the chemical first started as a homeland security issue. The barrels were found last autumn.