Small mammals cause damage chiefly in winter, when they enter the hive. The harm is surprisingly large for their size.

Mice — the usual problem

The mouse is the most serious hive pest of the winter months.

The reason is simple: once the cluster has formed, the bees no longer guard the entrance. The hive becomes a warm, dry shelter filled with food.

The damage:

• Combs are gnawed away to make room for a nest
• Honey and pollen are eaten
• Droppings and urine remain in the hive; the sharp smell persists
• The colony is continually disturbed and the cluster may break up
• Frames and woodwork are damaged

One mouse can finish a colony in a single winter.

The answer: a mouse guard

The problem is entirely preventable. A guard at the entrance lets the bees through but stops the mouse.

• Fit it in time, in autumn, before the cluster forms
• The size matters. Too wide an opening lets a mouse through
• Watch for blockage by dead bees. Check through the winter that the entrance stays clear

This is one of the cheapest measures with the highest return in beekeeping.

Other small mammals

In some regions other small mammals take an interest in hives. Some hunt at the entrance; others try to get inside.

The measures are the same: narrow the entrance, raise the hive and secure it.

Protecting stored comb

Stored comb also attracts rodents. The store should be enclosed and the comb kept off the floor.

Comb damaged by rodents is generally unusable.

A balanced approach

Many small mammals perform useful functions in the ecosystem and some are protected.

The aim is not to destroy them but to block access to the hive — and a mouse guard does that completely.