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How to Deal with Wasp Nests Without Killing Them

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Jonathon Engels, a long-time vegetarian turned vegan, is currently on a trip from Guatemala to... Read More

It’s worth recognizing that wasps, including yellow jackets and hornets, are often pollinators and predatory insects that are great additions to the garden. For the most part, they aren’t on the prowl looking for folks to sting. They, like us, are animals doing what they do to survive.

For the most part, wasps are only aggressive when their homes are threatened. Walk over a yellow jacket hole or bump into a hornet’s nest and no doubt these creatures will sting and often swarm to do so. That’s why dealing with wasp nests is probably the most sensible way to avoid getting stung.

For those of us who are not keen to kill anything, the question then becomes how to deal with the nests without killing the wasps. And, while they aren’t always practical or 100% cruelty-free, there are some methods for doing this.

Wasp Warning by el brown/Creative Commons

Take Preventative Measures

First things first, the best way to avoid problems with wasp nests is to do your best to prevent them in the first place. That means taking active steps to ensure that wasps won’t find spaces around your home to be inviting for setting up shop for the summer.

One possibility for preventing wasp nests is to utilize fake nests. The idea is to hang the fake nest in the early spring before any wasp homes have been established. The fakes look a bit like a brown paper lantern or can be as simple as an inflated paper bag. And, the hope is that queen wasps will see the fakes and think the territory is already spoken for, persuading them elsewhere. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

Another good preventative measure to take is to spray beforehand. Like ants and many other pests, wasps are not great fans of the peppermint. A strong peppermint spray—1/2 cup of white vinegar, ½ cup of warm water, and one teaspoon of peppermint oil—can help a lot. Adding some other oils— eucalyptus, rosemary, tea tree, etc— can help, too.

Think Safety

The truth is, however, that wasps are known to set up nests wherever they please, sometimes regardless of fake nests or peppermint sprays. At this point, is important to think about safety before getting rid of the nest.

The best case scenario is that, if there is a nest, it is somewhere that can simply be avoided. In this case, if the wasps aren’t an immediate threat and the home isn’t going to be accidentally disturbed, the solution might be to simply steer clear of it for the summer.

When nests are inconveniently located, it’s important to approach them at the right time. Wasps are less active before sunrise and after sunset, so this is the time when approaching the nest isn’t as dangerous. If extra lighting is necessary, use a red light to avoid reactivating them.

The other smart move is to dress appropriately for the event. This is not the time for shorts, a T-shirt, and flip-flops. Instead, dress to cover up as much of your body and head as possible.

Yellow Jacket by Greg Westfall/Creative Commons

Three Non-Fatal Options

Ideally, the wasp nests can be removed without killing the wasps. For smaller nests with very few wasps, this can sometimes be as easy as knocking the nest down and clearing out of the space for a while. However, this doesn’t usually work for larger nests.

Nest relocation is an option for really brave and determined people. The idea here is to use a large bag and fish it over the nest, closing it quickly around the nest so no wasps can get out. Then, carry the bag somewhere less problematic and let them go… leaving quickly.

Wasp traps are also a thing. A homemade trap can be made from a plastic bottle. Cut the top portion of it off so that it can be turned upside down into the bottom. Fill the bottom with sweetened water or fruit juice. Wasp will be attracted in, but they struggle to leave. Release them elsewhere.

A slightly more brutal but still non-lethal option is to spray the nest with a garden hose. This allows you to keep a safe distance from the nest. It should be sprayed with a jet stream until the nest falls to pieces. After that, cover that space with peppermint spray.

The Last Resort

While it would be unfortunate to kill wasps, for those with severe allergies or who have loved ones with severe allergies, this can be a life-or-death situation. In that case, a gallon of water with a cup of dishwashing soap in a sprayer is inexpensive, safe for the family and garden (unlike poisons), and lethal to wasps.

Of course, the idea is to get rid of wasps without killing them. Not only are they living creatures that deserve to live, but also they are great for the environment. One of the best approaches to dealing with nests is to do so as soon as possible before colonies grow to unmanageable sizes.

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