covered in beeeeees!

[truepenny]

This afternoon, mirrorthaw and I discovered the hard way that there is a yellowjacket nest at the back corner of our garage.

Neither of us was stung badly, but it may be a while before I get my hat back.

Comments

[michaeldthomas.livejournal.com]

Crap. Good luck with that.

That's why I never go outside. ;-)

[1crowdedhour.livejournal.com]

That's why I never go outside. ;-)

I never go outside either. But I'm told a dab of ammonia helps when one is stung.

[1crowdedhour.livejournal.com]

Taken externally, not internally.

[casacorona.livejournal.com]

Oh no! I hope you have called in some experts in yellow jacket removal.

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

Not yet, but it is a likely next step.

[renatus.livejournal.com]

Oh. Oh dear. :( I'm glad you're not allergic (or allergic enough to be in danger) either.

[coffeeem.livejournal.com]

Eeeek! Um, I'm imagining a great cloud of yellowjackets flying away with your hat and dropping it on the garage roof...

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

Hee.

No, actually, it's worse than that. My hat fell off in the first, chaotic introductions between myself and the yellowjackets. I.e., it's more or less on top of the nest. When we went back out to retrieve other objects and finish the yardwork that wasn't invading the yellowjackets' territory, mirrorthaw observed that they seemed inclined to keep the hat.

[cassandraterra.livejournal.com]

Whatever you do, do it at dusk. They cannot see in the dark and all of the yellojackets will have returned to the nest. I say RAID works the best. But wear a mask and make sure your eyes are covered with some protective wear. It is dangerous stuff. But it works very well.

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

Apparently right now is the time of year that wasps and yellowjackets are most active and most irritable. So it's not surprising that you would encounter them now. (Hope you're OK).

That being said, a Canadian government wasp expert told me the best action to take with wasps is to ignore them if you can. If the nest is somewhere you can stay away from, it will only be 1-2 months before it will be abandoned for winter -- and the wasps never come back to an old nest. So if you clear the old nest out in winter or early spring, and remove the conditions that made this a good nesting spot (if it's in a soffit, close up the holes in the wood; in your garage, remove stuff from the corners), you can avoid the whole exterminator biz.

OTOH, if it's somewhere you do have to get to or by or near, call in the experts.

[grass-angel.livejournal.com]

I can vouch for the information in the comment above mine – as long as your winters are wet and cold ones, the wasp nest will all but die and the queen will settle in another area.
However, if your winters are mild, there are insecticidal powders which can be employed by you (if you feel brave enough) or by the local pest control.
There is also the option of setting the nest on fire, but that won't help get your hat back.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_illumina_/]

Ouch! I first heard the word 'yellowjacket' while reading Laura Ingalls Wilder - I never realised til now that they're what we know as wasps on this side of the pond! I hate the little bleeders!

Hi, by the way - a friend linked to you, and your blog seems interesting, so I've added you to my reading list.

[girlpunksamurai.livejournal.com]

Ouch O.O

[pameladean]

Oh, ouch. Those guys are CRANKY. I hope your stings subside quickly. Ouch.

P.