6 Best Metal Inner Covers For Predator Protection Old-Timers Swear By

You can do everything right—manage mites, ensure a strong queen, and leave plenty of winter stores—only to find a hive ripped apart by a raccoon or a determined skunk. A standard wooden inner cover is often the weakest link, easily chewed or pried off by a predator with time and hunger on its side. Investing in a solid metal inner cover isn’t an overreaction; it’s one of the simplest, most effective insurance policies for your bees.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Why Old-Timers Trust Metal Over Wood Covers

There’s a reason you see weathered metal covers on hives that have been sitting in the same spot for decades. Wood rots, warps, and cracks. A determined raccoon can shred the edge of a plywood inner cover in a single night to get to the honey and brood inside.

Metal, on the other hand, presents a completely different challenge. It doesn’t splinter. It can’t be chewed through. The hard, smooth edge gives claws and teeth nothing to grip, frustrating predators until they give up and move on. A metal cover turns a potential meal into an impenetrable fortress.

This isn’t just about large predators like bears or raccoons. Mice can easily gnaw through a wooden cover’s vent hole to nest inside the warm hive for winter. Woodpeckers have been known to drill through wooden tops. A steel or aluminum barrier eliminates these threats entirely, providing a level of security that wood simply cannot match over the long haul.

Mann Lake Vented Metal Inner Cover for Airflow

The biggest debate with solid covers is always ventilation. A completely sealed top can trap moisture, leading to condensation that drips down on the cluster during winter—a death sentence for bees. Mann Lake’s vented model addresses this head-on.

This cover incorporates small, protected vents that allow moist air to escape without creating a gaping hole for pests. It’s a smart compromise. You get the chew-proof security of steel while still managing the hive’s internal climate. This design is particularly useful in damp, humid regions where condensation is a constant battle.

The tradeoff, of course, is a slight loss of heat retention compared to a solid, insulated cover. In bitterly cold, dry climates, you might find a solid cover with a quilt box is a better setup. But for most three-season applications or in milder winters, this vented design provides an excellent balance of security and hive health.

Dadant & Sons Pro Feeder with Metal Guard

Sometimes the best defense is integrated into other essential equipment. The Dadant Pro Feeder isn’t just an inner cover; it’s a top feeding system with a crucial security feature: a built-in metal guard over the access point.

When you use a standard top feeder, you often create a new vulnerability. Raccoons, skunks, and even opportunistic yellow jackets can figure out how to access the syrup, and from there, the hive itself. This feeder’s design uses a metal plate to shield the opening, making it nearly impossible for predators to get a claw or snout in.

This is an ideal solution for beekeepers who feed regularly, especially in the fall when predator pressure is high and hives are reducing their entrances. It combines two essential tasks—feeding and security—into one piece of durable equipment. You’re not just protecting the hive; you’re protecting the very food stores you’re providing to get them through winter.

Betterbee Ultimate Screened Metal Inner Cover

This cover is the multi-tool of hive protection. It combines a sturdy metal frame with a robust section of #8 hardware cloth (screen). This design offers a unique combination of benefits that go beyond just stopping a raccoon.

The primary advantage is maximum ventilation while maintaining total security from pests of all sizes. The screen allows for excellent airflow, drastically reducing condensation issues. More importantly, it creates an impassable barrier for wax moths, hive beetles, and robbing bees, even when the outer cover is slightly ajar for ventilation or during inspections.

This cover truly shines when you need to move a hive. You can screen the entrance, secure this inner cover, and transport the entire colony with confidence, knowing the bees are safely contained but won’t overheat. It provides peace of mind that a solid wood or metal cover can’t offer in those specific situations. It’s less about brute force and more about total, controlled security.

VIVO BE-HV04 Steel Hive Top for Security

While most focus on the inner cover, the VIVO system takes a more holistic approach. This isn’t just an inner lid; it’s a heavy-gauge, galvanized steel telescoping outer cover. It’s designed to fit snugly over the hive body, creating a heavy, pry-resistant cap that is the first and most important line of defense.

Think of it this way: if a predator can’t get the outer cover off, it doesn’t matter what the inner cover is made of. The weight and rigid construction of the VIVO top make it extremely difficult for animals like raccoons to lift or shift. Its galvanized steel build means it won’t rust out or weaken over time, unlike standard metal-wrapped wooden covers where the wood eventually rots away.

You would still use a standard inner cover beneath it for bee space and insulation, but the VIVO top provides the primary structural defense. This is a great choice for apiaries in remote locations where you can’t check on hives daily. It’s a simple, brutish, and highly effective solution against prying claws.

Harvest Lane Honey Bear-Proof Metal Inner Lid

When your main problem is big, you need a big solution. The "Bear-Proof" name isn’t just marketing; it signals a significant step up in construction. These lids are typically made from a much thicker gauge of steel and are designed to resist immense force.

A bear won’t bother chewing; it will use its weight and strength to pry, crush, or peel. This lid is built to withstand that. The edges are often reinforced, and the entire plate is designed to resist bending and buckling. It’s significantly heavier and more rigid than a standard metal cover.

This is overkill for someone dealing with skunks. But if you live in bear country, it’s essential. Pairing this inner lid with heavy-duty straps wrapped completely around the hive stack is the standard protocol. The goal isn’t just to stop a bear, but to make the hive so frustrating to attack that the bear decides to look for an easier meal elsewhere.

Little Giant Farm & Ag Steel Inner Hive Cover

Sometimes, you just need something simple that works. The Little Giant cover is the definition of a no-frills workhorse. It is, quite simply, a solid sheet of durable, galvanized steel cut to fit perfectly as an inner cover.

There are no vents to worry about, no screens to clean, and no complex moving parts. Its strength is its simplicity. The solid steel plate provides a complete, impenetrable barrier against chewing and clawing. It’s heavy enough to stay put and tough enough to last a lifetime.

This is the perfect upgrade for a beekeeper who wants a straightforward, cost-effective security boost. It excels in colder climates where maximum heat retention is key, and it serves as a fantastic base for adding a quilt box or insulation directly on top. It does one job—protecting the top of the hive—and it does it exceptionally well.

Installing Your Metal Cover for Max Protection

A metal cover is only as good as its installation. Simply placing it on top of the hive is a good start, but it’s not enough to stop a determined predator. You need to ensure it’s part of a secure system.

First, check the fit. The cover should sit flat and square on the top hive body, leaving no significant gaps. A cover that rocks or slides easily can be exploited. If your hive bodies are a bit warped, you may need to shim or scrape the edges to get a flush fit.

Second, always use additional weight or straps. A heavy rock or a concrete block placed on top is the old-timer’s classic for a reason—it works. For serious predator pressure, especially from bears, nothing beats a pair of heavy-duty ratchet straps cinched tightly around the entire hive stack, from the bottom board to the top cover. This turns your stack of individual boxes into a single, solid unit that cannot be disassembled by brute force.

Ultimately, choosing the right metal cover comes down to knowing your specific threats. Whether you need ventilation for humidity, a screen for moving hives, or sheer brute strength for bears, there’s a metal option that’s far superior to standard wood. It’s a small investment that protects the countless hours and hard work you’ve poured into your colony.