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A straightforward and protected methodology for eradicating an underground yellow jacket or hornet’s nest with no poison and no threat of stings to you!
My latest article on eradicating wasp nests utilizing a brown paper bag resulted in a number of requests about the way to do the identical for hornets and yellow jackets.
In contrast to wasps, which usually construct their nests in timber or the eaves of a roof, hornets and yellow jackets are sneakier, favoring underground places.
A gap within the floor the place the bugs come and go is the one proof that a large nest could possibly be lurking beneath the soil!
Typical Technique for “Floor Bees”
Just a few years in the past, there was a big yellow jacket nest underground on the property line between our dwelling and my neighbor.
It was an enormous threat for somebody to inadvertently disturb the nest and get stung whereas mowing or doing yard work.
Clearly, the nest wanted to be eliminated instantly.
My neighbor, who’s an skilled and credentialed biologist, thought it will be best to make use of chemical compounds.
He donned a bee go well with for defense and utilized the combo into the outlet through the night time when the yellow jackets have been least lively.
It took a number of functions earlier than the nest was totally eradicated.
For sure, neither of us was joyful to be utilizing chemical compounds. We simply didn’t know of one other methodology on the time.
Because it seems, there may be a straightforward approach to do away with floor nests….poison-free!
I’ll positively be utilizing this method sooner or later.
Poison-Free Nest Removing
I just lately grew to become conscious of the way to take away floor hornets and yellow jackets with out chemical compounds. This tip is from Rachel, a reader good friend who commented on the wasp nest article.
She wrote (reprinted with permission):
A neighbor instructed me an exquisite answer for eliminating floor bees (yellow jackets, and many others) that construct nests underground.
He simply pops a marshmellow or one thing candy (granola bar, and many others.) into the outlet within the night, and that pulls the skunks, which then fortunately eradicate the nest, as they contemplate bees a delicacy!
I attempted this when yellow jackets nested in a raised mattress; inside a number of nights, they have been gone!
What a unbelievable concept! The one catch is that you must have skunks or some associated species of stink badgers in your neighborhood.
Animals That Eat Hornets and Yellow Jackets
Since we don’t have a number of skunks in my neighborhood anymore as a result of fast improvement of the final decade or so, I initially didn’t assume this methodology would work effectively for me.
Nonetheless, after doing extra analysis, I discovered that raccoons and armadillos may also fortunately eat up a floor nest stuffed with hornets or yellow jackets! (1)
We’ve got A LOT of these critters.
Thus, if you happen to don’t have skunks round to make use of the granola bar method, attempt a can of pet meals to usher in the raccoons!
Moist pet meals will actually appeal to raccoons, in my expertise. I’ve used this method to humanely entice them in the event that they have been threatening my laying chickens prior to now.
When you favor to keep away from attracting raccoons as they’ll get into rooster coops, attempt utilizing overripe fruit, mealworms, or spoiled meat to draw armadillos.
These closely armored mammals with an extended snout received’t assault yard chickens. (2)
Remember that black bears like floor bee nests too.
So, measures to draw skunks, raccoons, or armadillos might inadvertently invite bears to the celebration if you happen to dwell in a rural space.
For areas of the world with out raccoons, armadillos, and skunks, it’s good to know that domesticated geese may also fortunately eat up a floor hornet or yellow jacket nest! (3)
Avoiding Stings
When you resolve to do this methodology, be sure you put the bait within the nest gap at night time when the hornets or yellow jackets are dormant.
This may just about eradicate your threat of stings.
It’s possible you’ll must repeat the method for a number of nights in a row for full elimination.
Fall is a superb time to care for floor bee nests which have cropped up through the hotter months.
I hope this methodology is useful to a few of you grappling with the way to eradicate them safely with out poison!
(1) What Animals Assault Yellow Jacket Nests within the Floor?
(2) Greatest Armadillo Bait
(3) Geese Eat Yellow Jackets??!! Possibly so…
