My First Yellow Jacket Nest Elimination

Updated on 2024-08-01

I’ve heard about yellow jacket nests being in the ground, but I’ve never encountered one in the past. I’ve heard about people getting stung multiple times because they weren’t aware that a yellow jacket ground nest existed until they walked across one.

On July 05, I went outside to set up another rat trap to catch chipmunks. While walking back toward the exterior basement walkup, I noticed yellowish-colored insects flying from the ground close to the edge of the top of the exterior basement walkup. I then peered down into the hole from which the insects were flying and I observed yellow and black faces lined up around the perimeter of the hole…yellow jackets. Great, like I needed more things to do.

I continued observing the activity from the location while inside by using a pair of binoculars. There was quite a bit of activity, yellow jackets leaving from, and arriving to, the ground nest. I was surprised that the crew who cuts our lawn hadn’t been attacked based on the activity I was observing from the yellow jacket nest. I knew I needed to do something before the nest became larger and the yellow jackets attacked someone.

I sent an email to my neighbor to the right of our home to let him know so he wouldn’t get attacked if he went out into his backyard. I also sent a text message to my lawn care company to let them know in case they were planning to come out that day to cut our grass. Finally, I let my wife know about the yellow jacket ground nest because she frequently goes into the backyard to water her garden.

I wasn’t quite sure how to eliminate the yellow jacket ground nest. Therefore, I began searching the Internet on how to eliminate a yellow jacket ground nest.

A few sites provided suggestions, but recommended having a professional pest control company perform the elimination. However, one site stated that the cost would be $725. I thought that was a ridiculous amount of money to charge just to eliminate one yellow jacket ground nest.

One tip I quickly learned from a number of sites and from YouTube videos was to perform the elimination at night because most of the yellow jackets would be back at the nest and they would not be active. I also learned that you shouldn’t shine a flashlight into the hole of a yellow jacket ground nest because bright lights can irritate them.

From the research I performed, I learned that there were a number of methods one can use to eliminate a yellow jacket ground nest. In one YouTube video, the content creator recommended using dish detergent and water. I also picked up a great tip from the video in that the individual used screen material to prevent the yellow jackets from coming out of the ground nest.

In another YouTube video, I learned that you could use a weed torch, which I have, to burn a yellow jacket ground nest. The only caveat was that the nest might be too far in the ground for a weed torch to be effective. Additionally, my weed torch is not as powerful as the one used in the video.

In a video on a YouTube channel dedicated to hornet removal, the content creator used a shop vac partially filled with soapy water to suck up yellow jackets. One reason he used a shop vac to preserve the nest was so that he could take the nest home and feed it to the animals he had on his property.

In another YouTube video, the content creator used homemade napalm to burn the yellow jacket nest on his property.

In yet another YouTube video, the content creator used an insecticide dust which worked more slowly, but was effective.

I had SpectracidePro Wasp and Hornet Killer on hand and I considered using that in combination with an insecticide dust. I didn’t have any insecticide dust, so I went to Lowes on 07/06/2024 to purchase some.

Unfortunately, Lowes didn’t have any insecticide dust that listed yellow jackets as a target insect. However, I did spot Spectracide Carpenter Bee & Ground-Nesting Yellow Jacket Killer foam. I decided not to purchase the foam since I already had wasp and hornet spray.

I continued deliberating how I was going to eliminate the yellow jacket nest. I didn’t feel comfortable just wearing thick clothing during the elimination attempt and therefore, I decided to purchase a bee suit from Amazon. Unfortunately, I forgot to record a recent previous transaction, so I thought I had more money in my checking account than I actually had. Therefore, Amazon was unable to complete my order. I attempted to purchase the suit again, but it wouldn’t have been delivered until 07/10/2024, which would not have arrived in time. I wanted to eliminate the yellow jacket nest before 07/10/2024, so that our lawn care company could cut our grass.

I changed my mind about the yellow jacket foam because I thought that would work better for a ground nest and on 07/07/2024 I decided to purchase a can of that and a headlamp that had a red light mode. Insects can’t see red light, so the red light would allow me to see what I was doing without disturbing the yellow jacket nest.

On 07/08/2024 I decided to try to eliminate the yellow jacket ground nest. I went back to Lowes planning to purchase the yellow jacket foam and a headlamp with a red light mode. Unfortunately, Lowes no longer had the yellow jacket foam on the shelf. So I went to Home Depot and I purchased the yellow jacket foam and a headlamp.

I began getting everything ready in preparation for attempting to eliminate the yellow jacket ground nest. I had everything I needed except for a piece of screen material. I went into the basement because I knew I had some screen material I had purchased a few years ago to make a lightweight attic hatch using a foam board technique I saw on a YouTube video. The screen material was fiberglass and I wasn’t sure that would work well because the yellow jackets might be able to chew through the fiberglass material. In hindsight, the fiberglass screen probably would have worked since it wasn’t going to be a long term barrier.

I continued scouring our basement and I finally found a roll of aluminum screening that I had purchased for a reason I can no longer remember. I cut about a 10-in x 10-in piece from the roll to use to block the yellow jacket ground nest entrance. I tested the screen to make sure the plastic tube for disbursing the yellow jacket foam would fit throught the screen holes…it didn’t. I found a 2-inch nail that I used to enlarge five different openings in the piece of screen.

I went out at about 4:00 a.m. on 07/09/2024. I wore a thick sweatshirt, a pair of jeans, a hat, and my yard shoes. I considered using a bug net on my head, but I feared not being able to see very well in the dark. Therefore, I opted not to use the bug net. I was extremely nervous about attempting the nest elimination.

Prior to approaching the yellow jacket ground nest, I shook the can of yellow jacket foam to properly mix the contents as directed in the instructions on the back of the can.

The red light mode on the headlamp worked great and I was able to spot the yellow jacket ground nest entrance. It was closer to the top of the exterior basement walkup than I had previously thought.

I crept up slowly to the nest on my hands and knees and I laid the piece of aluminum screen over the nest entrance. I was a bit concerned because the nest entrance was located in an area where the ground sloped slightly toward the wall of the exterior basement walkup. I brought four bricks with me to hold down the piece of screen tightly over the yellow jacket ground nest entrance. I carefully placed all four bricks over the piece of screen.

Unfortunately, the holes that I had made in the piece of screen to facilitate inserting the plastic tube for dispersing the yellow jacket foam didn’t work because the piece of screen was at an angle. Fortunately, I had the foresight to bring the 2-in nail with me and I used it to further enlarge one of the existing holes that I had made earlier.

I inserted the tube through the screen and into the yellow jacket ground nest entrance and I began dispensing the foam into the ground. I dispersed the foam for a good 15 seconds or more. Toward the end of dispersing the foam, I heard a gurgling sound coming from the ground around the yellow jacket nest. I don’t know if the sound was from the foam expanding into the nest cavity, the yellow jackets moving in reaction to the foam, or a combination of the two. The sound was a bit odd.

I decided to leave the screen and bricks in place to prevent any yellow jackets from escaping.

I felt that I had accomplished my mission and I felt an immense sense of relief. I had trouble sleeping for the previous few nights because the thought of the nest and how I was going to eliminate it weighed heavy on my mind.

I went out a few hours later to check on the yellow jacket nest and I didn’t see any activity. I decided to continue leaving the screen and bricks in place for one day.

I sent an email to my neighbor letting him know that I had eliminated the yellow jacket nest, so it was safe for him to go out into his backyard. I also sent a text message to the owner of the company that cuts our grass letting him know that it was now safe for his crew to cut our lawn.

Early in the morning of 07/10/2024, I went out and removed the screen and bricks. On the screen was one small dead yellow jacket. Other than the solitary yellow jacket on the screen, there was no sign of activity coming from the yellow jacket ground nest.

One other thing I learned during my research was that you can easily reduce the population of yellow jackets and bald-faced hornets within a half-mile by setting out apple juice laced with boric acid. You can learn more about that technique in this YouTube video.

If I ever have to deal with another yellow jacket nest, I will purchase a bee suit beforehand. I would feel much more comfortable in a bee suit when attempting to eliminate a yellow jacket nest.

Post header image courtesy of Alvesgaspar at Wikimedia Commons.

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