Multiple factors should be considered when deciding where to place a hive. It's important to consider the bees' flight path, especially in urban areas. Raising the hive off the ground by a foot and a half helps to ward off predators. Skunks, in particular, are fond of eating bees. Sunlight should also be considered, as warmer conditions will prompt the bees to leave the hive in search of pollen to feed brood during the colder months. Jon Christie, owner of Wild Mountain Bees, explains the different hive configurations bee keepers use throughout the country, depending on temperatures. Northern bee keepers use two deeps to insure that their hives have enough food to survive the winter. Bee keepers south of the Mid-Atlantic region tend to use one deep and a super. Another popular arrangement uses three supers which are easier to lift.