DIY Wasp Nest Removal: How To Get Rid of Yellow Jackets

Yellow jackets are highly aggressive wasps that like to build their nests tucked away. They tend to be attracted to your home because of all the nooks they have to choose from. You will often see a nest in attics, between walls, under eaves, and inside recycling bins where sugars are common.

Yellowjackets are a highly risky pest to keep around. They are aggressive and, unlike bees, they can sting multiple times plus they have a tendency to bite. Yellow jackets are responsible for most of the stinging deaths in the US. So, it is vital that you take care of them when they become a problem and that you do so safely and quickly.

There are a few options when it comes to yellow jacket nest removal. You can create a DIY wasp trap. This is especially useful when they aren’t in an obvious nest, some yellowjackets nest underground making it tricky to find their nest. To make your own trap, take a 2-liter bottle and add sugar, apple cider vinegar, a banana peel, and water. Shake the mixture and cut a ¾-inch hole in the top half of the bottle and place it close to the hive, or wherever you see them often. This can also help you keep them away if you are trying to enjoy a snack outside.

DIY Wasp Nest Removal

If you know where the nest is, removing the nest is the best option. If you feel safe doing so, you can remove the wasp nest yourself. Be sure to wear the proper protection when removing a wasp nest yourself. There are plenty of spray and other chemicals that you can consider using as added protection, but if you don’t want to go that route, you can simply remove the nest. It is recommended that you do this at night as that is when the wasps are least active. Simply take a garbage bag and slowly cover the wasp nest. Then detach the nest and seal the bag. Place the bag in a garbage can with a tightly fitted lid and place it away from your house. It’s a good idea to have a full can of pest control product handy to spray on the nest before removing it.

When doing any kind of wasp removal, safety should be your first consideration. Make sure you cover your skin, especially your face when working with these insects. They have a tendency to swarm, so be prepared. Wasps have been known to chase their prey for up to a mile and that could include you. Make sure that you have a plan. If you are in your home, make sure that you have an exit plan and if you are outside, have a plan for how to escape an angry swarm before you start this process. Know that one wrong move and you could have an angry swarm of yellowjackets coming after you. Also, keep in mind that any family members or pets could get caught in a swarm if they aren’t far enough away. Take time, take precautions, and be aware of your surroundings.

DIY wasp removal is risky and you should not attempt it if you have a history of allergies or bad reactions to bites and stings. Don’t put your own life and health at risk.

If you don’t want to have to deal with the removal of wasp nests, there are some preventative measures you can take to keep wasps away from your home. Regularly checking your home for cracks and such will help keep yellowjackets, and other pests, from getting into your home. Simply walking around and assessing your home is a good thing to do regularly for pest prevention. This will also allow you to find any budding nests and get rid of them early on before they become too big of a problem. Some natural elements that can deter yellowjackets are wormwood, spearmint, thyme, eucalyptus, and lemongrass. So keep some of these natural elements in and around your house to dissuade yellowjackets from choosing your home as their next home.

yellowjacket nest — Yellowjacket wasp nest

When To Call For Professional Help

A “do it yourself” approach to yellowjacket removal works well for small problems when you have the proper protective equipment, but these are dangerous pests to deal with on your own. They are one of the most aggressive wasps and if you upset them and aren’t prepared you could be putting your life at risk. There is an extreme risk to you and your family if treating a yellow jacket nest inside your home. You could also make the problem worse by disturbing and not removing their nest. This is why we often recommend calling in professional wasp exterminators to handle yellow jacket infestations, especially if they are inside or the nest you are wanting to be removed is mature. Blue Beetle is equipped to safely handle such situations and prevent you or a family member from risking their lives to remove these pests. There are plenty of pest problems you can handle on your own, but don’t put your life at risk to get rid of these pests.