Can You Remove a Wasp Nest Yourself? Advice for Buckland Homeowners
One nest on a property rarely means the only one. A calm check of the other likely spots, from a safe distance, helps the booking cover everything in a single visit.
One nest, maybe two
When you find a wasp nest, it is natural to think that is the end of the matter. But a property can hold more than one. A large garden, a row of outbuildings, a hedged boundary and a roof with a number of gaps all offer sites. Nests begin from late April, depending on the weather, and more than one colony can set up in different corners.
Buckland households who have found one nest are sensible to take a careful look at the rest of the property. The reason is practical. If a second nest is found after the first has been treated, it needs another visit. If it is found before, it can be dealt with at the same time.
This is also about safety. A DIY attempt on the first nest can disturb wasps from a second, and a person who has just been stung may walk straight into the other one without noticing.
There is a difference between a second nest and a busy first one. A single large nest can have several entrances, and wasps from each may look like separate traffic. The technician will sort this out on the day, but your notes on where you saw activity help.
Also remember that wasps, like other insects, do not announce themselves. A nest tucked behind ivy or under a window cill may only be noticed when the colony has grown. The longer you have lived with a nest unnoticed, the more likely it is that others have also grown unseen.
Where second nests hide
Think about the places wasps like.
- Roof edges, soffits, fascia boards and gaps around chimneys.
- Sheds, garages, car ports and summerhouses.
- Hedges, bushes, ivy and trees.
- Banks, lawns and flower beds, where a hole in the ground may lead to a nest.
- Air bricks, vents and gaps in brickwork.
- Compost heaps, log piles and stacked items.
Look at each from a safe distance, for one or two minutes at a time, on a warm day. A second flight path in a different direction is the clearest sign.
Neighbouring properties can have nests too. If wasps seem to be coming from beyond your boundary, ask your neighbour to look, but do not enter their land yourself. Keep your notes about what you saw on your side.
Outbuildings deserve extra care, since a nest can be inside a shed or garage with only a small gap showing. If wasps are entering a building, do not open the door to look. Add it to your sketch and describe it.
A safe way to search
Do not go looking among foliage or under eaves. Stay at the edge of each area and watch.
- Walk the boundary of the property slowly, stopping at each outbuilding and structure.
- Watch for wasps that fly directly in and out of a hole, which differs from wasps feeding on fruit or flowers.
- Count roughly how many in a minute, and note the direction.
- Do not peer into hedges or lift tarpaulins.
- If wasps show any interest in you, move away calmly.
Make a sketch of the property and mark where you think nests may be. It helps to show it to the technician.
Repeat the walk a few days later if you can. Some nests are small early on and become visible as the colony grows, so a second look may reveal something that was hidden at first.
Take a moment to check the front of the property as well as the back. People tend to focus on the area where they found the first nest and overlook the front porch or the side passage.
How extra nests are priced
Wasp Exterminator Kent treats a nest at a fixed £120 in total, with one visit guaranteed. An additional nest on the same property is £60 for each extra nest. There is no call-out charge, and the price does not rise for location or time of day, so a nest in a hedge costs the same as one in a loft.
Mention a suspected second nest at booking. The technician can check on the day. Do not worry if you are not sure, because the price is fixed and there are no hidden costs for finding another.
Technicians are fully insured and qualified, and work on domestic and commercial properties, seven days a week. The business offers same-day visits as well as evening and weekend appointments. If you would rather talk, ring 01622 410 019, and if not, the contact page form does the same job. The form also serves for emergency service outside office hours.
Keep in mind that the exercise is for information, not for action. Whatever you find, the next step is to tell the team, not to deal with it.
Keep everyone informed about what you have found so far. A family member who does not know about a second suspected nest might walk straight past it.
Staying safe until the visit
Keep everyone away from all the areas where you think wasps may be nesting. Cover bins, food and drink, and keep windows near the nests closed.
When a sting happens, wash it, remove the sting if visible and use something cold on the spot. A 999 call is needed for swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, a widespread rash or dizziness. People with known allergies should speak to their GP and tell the booking team when arranging the visit.
Ask the technician whether the empty nest can be taken down, and whether there is anything you should check around the property after the visit.
Share your sketch when you ring, and check whether the technician would like photos taken from a safe distance of each area.
When the technician arrives, walk them round from a safe distance, pointing out each suspected spot. The team will do the checking from there.
Wasps on your property in Buckland?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.