We get yellow jackets in our yard every summer and I used to destroy them all on sight but I always felt so bad about taking out entire families with chemical warfare so I’ve switched to a live and let live strategy the last few years. They are chill and we’ve only had one sting in those years and I think that was just an unfortunate accident with my youngest stepping on one and pissing it off. I still have several cans of spray so if they break the treaty then I’m ready to go to war, but for now we’re able to cohabitate.
Some made a nest in our gravel driveway a few years ago and were eating from the fig tree in our front yard. I borrowed a shop vac, put soapy water in it and then laid the nozzle next to the hole for an entire day. After I stopped seeing any I got boiling soapy water and poured it down the hole several times and what was left of the nest (and queen) came out. So many dead Yellowjackets!
We get yellow jackets in our yard every summer and I used to destroy them all on sight but I always felt so bad about taking out entire families with chemical warfare so I’ve switched to a live and let live strategy the last few years. They are chill and we’ve only had one sting in those years and I think that was just an unfortunate accident with my youngest stepping on one and pissing it off. I still have several cans of spray so if they break the treaty then I’m ready to go to war, but for now we’re able to cohabitate.
Some made a nest in our gravel driveway a few years ago and were eating from the fig tree in our front yard. I borrowed a shop vac, put soapy water in it and then laid the nozzle next to the hole for an entire day. After I stopped seeing any I got boiling soapy water and poured it down the hole several times and what was left of the nest (and queen) came out. So many dead Yellowjackets!