During the cold season, some hives may receive unwelcome visitors. Mice might enter seeking warmth and shelter, building nests away from the cluster of winter bees. These nests can damage wooden frames, destroy wax, and consume some of the colony’s reserves. Debris such as hair, leaves, fruit peels, and excrement can accumulate, leading to the loss of beekeeping equipment, as some frames become unusable and require thorough cleaning and disinfection. From the outside, you might only see wax sawdust and gnawed honeycombs.

Another unexpected guest that often settles inside hives is the shrew. Although they resemble mice, shrews are insectivorous mammals, not rodents. Being the smallest mammalian species, they can enter through relatively small hive openings. As insectivores, shrews pose a significant threat to the bees, preying on them from within the hive. From the outside, you may notice empty bee carcasses. Hives can either die from predation or suffer severe population depletion.

When preparing colonies for winter, consider these risks to prevent such intrusions. To deter these pests, keep the apiary clean of wax remains, which generally attract various types of pests.

Keeping the hives elevated not only benefits the beekeeper’s posture but also helps to reduce direct access from the ground. Using metal supports can further protect the hives.

To prevent intruders, reduce the hive entrance with metal plates or electro-welded metal mesh, leaving a gap of less than 1 cm in diameter. If the temperature permits, perform a quick visual inspection from above. If a mouse or shrew is present, remove them and then reduce the entrance. If this isn’t possible, use a wire to sweep the entrance from side to side to detect any unwanted objects. Ensure no intruders are present before reducing the gap.

Hive entrance reducers are readily available on the beekeeping market. Metal ones are more effective than plastic, which is vulnerable to rodents’ teeth. Repair or replace any hives with deteriorated wood that leaves openings, as these undermine other protective measures.

Rodents can also pose a problem in the beekeeper’s storage area. Stored equipment can become a hiding and hibernation spot, leading to damage and health risks from fecal and urine contamination. For health and safety, implement a rodent prevention plan for beekeeping facilities. This should include physical barriers on doors and windows and baited traps to control any intrusions.

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