straw for protection

[laurabell]

Hello,
This is my first winter keeping bees. I have styrofoam around 3 sides of the hive, my hive is approx 2 ft off the ground with a screened bottom board. I put stray bales around the bottom to protect from wind and cold. I've noticed some bees dead or seem to be struggling around the straw bales on the warmer days when they fly out. Is straw hard for bees to maneuver around on, or can it kill them? Just curious.
Thanks

[sterling]

The straw doesn't hurt bees but it could cause a mouse problem. Mice like to get into straw and could end up in the hive.

[AllenF]

Mice love hives in the winter.   Living in a buffet.   

[laurabell]

can mice fit in the smallest hole in a reducer?

[Culley]

Here in Australia, straw = mice = snakes.

I also wouldn't put straw near the hives because it could hold moisture and rot.

[derekm]

Mice love hives in the winter.   Living in a buffet.   

in a properly insulated hive they get such a warm welcome it kills them

[dirt road]

I must assume that you have your screened bottom board closed up, since it would (IMHO), fly in the face of common sense to leave it open and then pile straw around the hive to block wind and cold. With the bottom closed, and styrofoam on three sides of your hive, your bees should be fine. I agree with the others, get rid of the straw, it will cause more problems than it will solve.

[Highlander]

For what its worth;  I use a pile of loose hay over the inner cover in a super with the telescoping cover wedged on top.  Worked well last winter here in the Catskill Mountains.  I also keep a bottom board with a screened bottom to keep the moisture moving up and eventually out.  I also built a wind break out of some old metal roofing.  This was told to me by an old time beek here about. Issues here are deep cold, high winds (on the side of a mountain) and wet.