We have a lot, and I mean a lot of yellow jackets this year. You can not look in a two foot square without seeing at least one. Me and my sons have all been stung, a total of 7 times. They are every where in the front yard, the back yard, our grassy driveway, and around at the end of our garden near the chickens. We have looked all over and can't find the nest. Does any one have any ideas how to find it? I am very concerned with the amount of bees, it would be really bad if one of my sons came unknowingly to the nest in fact I don't want to come to close myself.Thanks to all.
How to Get Rid of Things: Forum » Pest Control
How do I find a yellow jacket nest
(13 posts)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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Near the chickens? Sounds like you have a farm or at least a large piece of property. This is like a military operation. You have a couple of options. I use surveyor flags. You know the small flag on a skinny wire. You can walk the property SLOWLY looking from side to side, looking at the ground or next to buildings, under bushes ( do not disturb the bush...you're only looking!) I believe you have more than one so don't stop the search and destroy mission until you've walked the entire property. When you find one mark it with the flag. Now you can also do this with binoculars or in a slow moving vehicle if it's to large to walk. You will find them going in and out of a hole in the ground
quite rapidly. Remember..S L O W ..they can feel the vibration. Let us know how many you find then we'll talk about treating them.Posted 2 years ago # -
OH...I forgot..check out your house they may also be in your walls, or the barn or out buildings.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I have checked down the drive, around the garden, the checkens and the front yard the only place I see them going in and out of is the central heat and air unit. But I think they were just after water then. I have found a few holes but no bees. I just don't know how I can possibly be missing it. They swarm every where we cant step with out them under our feet.
Posted 1 year ago # -
There is another resource you can use. The sponsors on this page. Maybe a trained eye can spot them for you.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Actually, we can't tell them to click on the ads. It's against Google policy, I guess.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Whoops..ok don't do that. I find them under the slab that the ac unit is on all the time, or sometimes even worse going into the wall behind it where the pipes go in...maybe you should take a second look..and of course..SLOWLY.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I have had several nests this year and have seen a lot of them hovering around the ground, hunting, just like you. I have eliminated 3 nests and still see them. If you have an area with leaf litter, check extra closely. In previous years I used to find the nest in a part of my back yard that gets a lot of afternoon sun, but not much morning sun in a fairly open, grassy, dry, area. This year they were under bushes and in other areas with leaves piled up as mulch. It can be a little hard to see the coming and going at the nest entrance when it is hidden in the leaves.
Is it possible that the nest isn't on your property but maybe on a neighbor's land? I don't know how far they roam from the nest, but I have seen them down the street from me and wasn't sure whether it was from the nests on my property or not.
As for getting rid of them once you find the nest, a method I have never had fail: Wait until a while after complete dark and pour some honey down the hole. Within a day or two they will be gone. I have found this to work more reliably than using a can of wasp poison, and it has the advantage that it doesn't leave a residue you have to worry about poisoning your kids or pets.
Posted 1 year ago # -
SWEET! Now that's a great idea! And it won't alarm the bees. The honey probably oozes slowly down into the galleries and blocks them. How about something with a similar consistency like molassas? We need more ideas like this one..got any more?
Posted 1 year ago # -
I don't have any other ideas right now, but if I find out about any I'll let you know. Btw, I am pretty sure that the honey attracts a nocturnal predator that devours the nest, (Like a skunk) but since I don't stay up all night and watch I can't be sure. I just know it has worked every time I have done it wit a single application.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Is it dug up the next day? Come on I know you have some more eco friendly ideas up your sleeve..give it up.
Posted 1 year ago # -
My curiosity is also piqued.
Posted 1 year ago # -
No more ideas that I can think of right now... As for when the nest is dug up, it is usually that night (skunks are nocturnal). I can't recall having ever seen an active nest after more than 2 days. If I do find or think of any other ideas, I will let you know. (I have heard of an idea to stop ants getting into a hummingbird feeder, but I haven't had a chance to try it yet since they seem to be leaving mine alone right now. Once I have tried it I will post about it.)
Posted 1 year ago #
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