Humane Ways to Remove Wasp Nest

Now that spring is back, you’ll probably be noticing more wasp’s nests around your home. While they are pollinators, you’ll probably not want them to stick around. Mainly due to the risk of the sting they bring. Well, thankfully there are a few chemical-free ways to remove wasp nest.

Fair warning, all of these come with a light risk of taking a few stings. If you are allergic, please call a pest control expert.

Step one will always be prevention, though. Cover garbage cans and keep a close eye on eves and overhangs. Knocking down a small nest that one queen is constructing while she is away will be much easier than dealing with many drones.

Another theory is that a bag of water with a shiny coin inside helps to deter wasps. Apparently, the sound of the coin causes a very high pitched vibration wave the wasps don’t like. This may just be an old wive’s tale, though.

One eco-friendly way to remove wasps is with a hose. Stand back as far as you can while spraying with a good amount of water pressure. Attach a hose head that sprays far and hard and stand as far away as you can. Let the house run for a few moments before hitting the nest, and then douse it as much as you can. Most wasps that survive won’t stick around and will move on to build a nest somewhere else.

Another option, which also calls for the protective measures mentioned above, is to use smoke. You can light a fire in a grill just below the nest, or build a small fire underneath it. The smoke will rise up and seep into the nest, where it will suffocate the wasps and force them to evacuate.

Allow the smoke to rise for an hour or two, and when you’re 100 percent certain the nest is empty, put the fire out and then knock the nest down using a stick or other object. It’s a good idea to keep a spray bottle filled with dish soap and water nearby so you can use it to fend off any live wasps that might remain.