Jim, Thumbtack idea sounds great, indeed. An ole hand in beekeping advised me not to staple the wire, although he did not mention about using thumbtacks, because racoons, possums, and skunks CAN rip the wire right out of the entrance. If thumbtacks can withstand such force, I will try them next time. Since I am on that topic, I often wonder how serious the mouse damage can be in the *south* because the warm weather often allows the bees cleansing flights even in the depth of winter. If so, couldn't they simply or eventually kill the mouse inside the hive? Of course, I realize that the damage had already been done then. Since I have been putting mouse-guards every year, I cannot tell how serious the mouse damage can be. . . . Depressed, thinking of spring already. . . . Yoon