Mike-
When I first started keeping bees - about eight years ago -
I had the same remorse over squashing bees as I closed up
the hive. I still do squash a few, but I have developed
a system that works for me. I let a little smoke float across
the top of the hive body (to give me a head start). Then I slowly
lower the inner cover down about twenty degrees of of its final
position. this rotation gives me a smaller surface area for
squishing the ladies. If I lower it slowly enough, they all get
out of the way. Once the top is down, I rotate it slowly, hoping
to chase my small cohorts out of the way. This seems to work for
me.
Larry Krengel
Marengo, IL USA