[q]We’ve just discovered a very big yellow jacket nest and possibly others, or just one really big one with lots of entries? I don’t know. But one for sure and lots of suddenly-appearing little holes around. Trouble is, it’s in the natural area right next to our daughter’s playset. She wouldn’t be able to play any more the entire season. I hate to say it, but we have to eradicate some yellow jackets. I seem to recall that the topic has been discussed before, but I didn’t keep the information. Could someone please help with what we can do? I read pouring kerosene down the holes at night would do it. But wouldn’t that do in our garden as well? Is there a non-toxic to plants but toxic to yellow-jackets alternative? Or are we being silly and we should go with a professional service? Please advise–creepy to see one flying into a hole in the ground about three feet from where I was blithely pulling weeds. [/q]
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I am sure this is not the professionally recommended method but I pour gas into them then light it from a distance. I don’t think much residue is left. How about throwing a tarp over and running exhaust fumes under the tarp. They are heavier than air. This works with woodchucks anyway. Speaking of woodchucks there are bombs that release gas into their holes but I have no idea what the gas is. If the gas is an acceptable substance then the tarp method might work. How about spraying a layer of some sticky stuff over the surface and leaving it there for a while. Are there biological controls for yellow jackets?[/a]
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Using gasoline, oil etc to rid ground of pests isn’t organic and in fact the stuff can harm the ground environment. Organic means non toxic and natural or healthy to the environment.[/a]
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We’ll probably try something like that in combination with baiting, maybe…I’m just concerned because there appear to be so many holes–if we spray in one, they’ll fly out another (ick ick ick) even if it’s evening, I bet… I want to have someone who has more experience look at the area and help us figure out what the underground layout may be…[/a]
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I, personally, would have a professional take care of them but that is because I have a daughter that is highly alergic to them. One of the few times she was bitten, it was on the bridge of the nose. Her face, even afer benadryl, swelled up twice the size and her eye swelled completely shut for two days. They are the NASTIES critter alive. Their bite is as bad as their sting and they are impossible to tollerate! Once, when camping, my older daugher walked across a nest, stiring up the jackets. I, unfortunately, was behind her, in cut offs and cowboy boots, carrying my youngest son, then 14 months old! I rushed my son across the nest and was frantic about getting my second daughter (the alergic child!)who was behind me, out of the middle of things. Needless to say, the danged jackets were all in my boots, biting and stinging me.
When all was said and done, I have over 35 bites and who knows how many stings! Thank God I’m not alergic to them! I’ve never had to put up with a nest – on my property atleast! And I don’t envy you at all but there are a lot of traps that work well for jackets. They LOVE fish and what I used to do is put a 2 liter bottle with about 2-4 inch of water in the bottom. I’d cut holes in the side of the bottle, near the bottom, just large enough for the jacket to squeeze in. I’d then drop some tuna cat food in the bottle and hang it outside. The jackets were always attracted to the tuna scent and since they can fly upwards but not down, they generally ended up drowning in the water. This trap wasn’t stinky if changed about every five days -more often in hotter weather! I doubt this will take care of your nest problem but it might help round up any future jackets that might consider your place a good spot to nest![/a]
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