Your home is your safe place. If someone who wants to harm you tried to get inside, you would be well within your right to use force to keep them out. The same would not be true if you took residence in a shed that belongs to someone else. At that point, you would be on their property, and they would be the ones who would want you gone. This is a fairly simple concept to understand but is not grasped by yellow jackets. These invasive pests regularly build their homes on area properties and then attack people who wander too close. To help you remind these pests that your Monterey property is yours, here are some things to consider, including one simple trick to eliminate yellow jackets fast.
Where Yellow Jackets Build Their Nests
Yellowjackets are unique wasps in that they do not just build their nests up high on the sides of buildings and tree branches. These pests will also construct their homes inside abandoned burrows and holes. If your property regularly has trouble with gophers, groundhogs, or voles, yellow jackets will have more opportunities to build concealed nests nearby. If you plan on going for a walk on your property and see yellow jackets around, be especially careful where you step.
What Attracts Yellow Jackets To Properties?
Yellowjackets look for properties that provide them with places to build nests and available food sources to eat. If you didn’t know, yellow jackets live on a diet of sweety and meaty foods. These pests regularly consume things like over-ripened fruit, berries, honeydew, and insects. They might also eat left-out pet food, scraps left over from an outdoor gathering, and food and beverages currently being enjoyed by people outside.
How To Deter Yellow Jackets
To keep yellow jackets out of your Monterey yard, there are a few things you should be doing. Here are some great prevention tips to follow to reduce your chances of finding these pests on your property.
- Pick up fruits and berries that fall into your yard.
- Clean up thoroughly after outdoor gatherings.
- Do not feed your pets outdoors.
- Fill in burrows and holes around your property.
- Consider removing budding plants like flowers from your property.
- Invest in tight-fitting lids for your trash cans.
- Clean out your trash cans regularly and use liners to reduce clean-up time.
The Dangers Of Dealing With Yellow Jacket Nests
Yellowjacket nests come in a variety of shapes and sizes. If a new nest has just popped up on your property and you catch it quickly, you may be able to deal with it on your own. If you do find a nest smaller than a golf ball up high on your property, use a long broom to knock it down during the day when its occupants are least likely to be home. For nests larger than a baseball, do not try to handle them on your own. Yellowjackets are incredibly aggressive pests that attack people and animals if they suspect their nest is in danger.
How Professionals Deal With Yellow Jackets
The best way to remove a nest from your property is to let a professional help you out. At Smith’s Pest Management, we are adept at eliminating yellow jackets. We also offer a range of services to handle ground pests like gophers, voles, and groundhogs, making burrows in which yellow jackets build their nests. Contact us today to find out more and schedule your Monterey property for a service visit.
