Feeding & Seasonal Care
Mouse Guard
Bars across the entrance that let bees through and mice not.
A mouse can enter a hive through a gap of about 10 mm, and it will do so in autumn looking for a warm, dry place to overwinter. Once inside it eats stores, fouls comb, and destroys the cluster's organisation. A colony that goes into winter strong can be dead by February because of one mouse.
The guard is a simple grille — round holes of about 9 mm or vertical slots — that fits over the entrance. Bees pass through without difficulty; mice cannot. It also stops the larger insects and keeps a reduced entrance from being widened by the bees.
At a glance
Safety
Check the guard every few weeks in winter. A guard blocked by dead bees or snow stops ventilation and traps the colony with damp air — a bigger risk than the mouse it was fitted for.
Using it well
- Fit the guard in early autumn, before the first cold snap drives mice indoors.
- Combine it with an entrance reducer set to the smallest opening.
- Check the guard after every storm and clear any blockage.
- Remove it in spring, or drones may be trapped inside the hive.
Compatibility
Hive types
- Langstroth
- Flow
Bees
European honey bee (Apis mellifera)
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