First in response to Blaine Whites response to my "Insecticide in Paint" query: Sorry to say as far as I know there are no new bear defenses here in the "Frozen North." Bees are almost entirely in the hobby catagory up here. I do know of one trailer, built to hold 10 hives, armored with heavy duty wire mesh. But nothing really new to report. Next a response to Dave Cawley (the 'accountant' from University of Scranton): Over the years I have kept varying numbers of colonies. This year three, last year four, the year before. . . . . The winters here are too long for easy or reliable wintering of bees. More often than not I find populations so low in the spring that they are not worth keeping separately. Mainly I buy new bees each year. Some years my finances ca n stand more than others.