hey, yea i plan to dry outside this year. going to make a small cage out of window screen, like 6 bucks for a 15 foot by 3 ft roll then put a cardboard box just smaller inside that, putting a few one inch holes in the sides and hang them in the box, going to do a few of these and hang them in trees i think. should keep animals out, won't stop bugs but i think keeping it off the ground will help.