Can You Remove a Wasp Nest Yourself? Advice for Faversham Homeowners
Finding a nest sets off a rush of ideas. A short, ordered routine for the first ten minutes keeps people safe and makes the next call a good one.
Slow down and step back
The first reaction to finding a nest is often to do something at once: spray it, block it, look closer. The best reaction is the opposite. Stop, step back and make yourself safe. A nest that has been there a week will be there in ten minutes, and nothing is lost by taking a short pause.
Faversham, in Kent, is no different from anywhere else in this. Nests begin from late April, depending on the weather, and by August a colony can hold from 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps. Whatever the time of year, the nest has to be treated as active and defended.
This article is a simple routine you can follow in order. It answers the question in the title by showing that the useful things to do right away are the ones that keep you away from the nest.
Many accidents happen in the first moments because people are caught between wanting to fix the problem and wanting to get away. A short routine takes away the need to decide on the spot.
If you are on your own, the routine matters even more. Keep your phone in your pocket when you work in the garden in summer, so you can call from wherever you end up.
Minutes one to three: make the area safe
Move any people and animals out of the area, calmly and without shouting.
- Walk, don't run, and keep your arms still.
- Take children and pets indoors, and shut the door.
- Close windows on the side of the house where the nest is.
- If wasps are following, keep moving until they stop, and then go inside.
- Switch off any machinery you were using, such as a mower or strimmer, from a safe distance if you can.
Do not go back for dropped tools, washing or toys. Leave them where they are.
If you are stung while moving away, keep moving. Wasps that follow usually give up after a short distance. Once you are indoors, check yourself in a mirror, and ask someone else to look at your neck and back where you cannot see.
The same goes for children. They may not tell you they have been stung if they were scared or excited, so look at arms, legs, neck and face when they come inside.
Minutes three to six: note what you saw
Once everyone is safe, take a moment to write down what you remember.
- Where the nest is: roof, wall, tree, shed, ground or other.
- About how high it is.
- How many wasps you saw and whether they were busy or calm.
- Whether anyone was stung, and how many times.
- Whether wasps have got into the house.
- Who lives or works at the property and whether anyone is allergic.
If it is safe to look from a window, watch the entrance for a minute. Do not step outside to do it.
If you have a landlord or managing agent, or other people who share the property, add them to the list of people to tell. You do not need to do it in the first ten minutes, but do it the same day.
Decide in advance who will make the call if there are several adults at home, so it is not left while everyone assumes someone else has done it.
Minutes six to ten: decide and make the call
With this information, the decision is clear. Do not approach the nest. Do not use a spray, water, smoke or any block. Phone the booking team.
Wasp Exterminator Kent offers same-day service and works seven days a week, with evening and weekend appointments. The fixed price is £120 per nest, with one visit guaranteed, and a second nest on the same property is £60 for that one. There are no call-out fees, and no extras for where the nest is or when the visit happens. Technicians are fully insured and qualified.
To book, ring 01622 410 019 or use the online form on the contact page. If it is outside office hours and urgent, the form can be used for emergency service. Say whether anyone is allergic to wasp stings so that the booking can be prioritised.
Write the notes on paper or the phone, whichever is quicker, and keep them where you can read them to the booking team. It is surprising how quickly details fade once the adrenaline has gone.
Resist the urge to solve the matter before the technician arrives. The calmest thing you can do is to wait, with the area cleared and the notes ready. A nest that has been quietly left alone is a much easier job than one that has been poked.
After the call
While you wait, keep everyone away from the area. Cover bins and food, and avoid leaving doors open on the nest side. If wasps are in the house, close the door of that room and open a window in a different room.
If someone has been stung, wash the area, remove a visible sting and use a cold pack. Phone 999 straight away if you see wheezing or difficulty breathing, a widespread rash, dizziness or swelling of the face, lips or throat.
When the technician arrives, share your notes and ask whether the empty nest can be taken down. Ask what to do about the area afterwards, and when it is safe to use it again.
Check on everyone in the household again an hour later. Reactions to a sting can develop over time, and someone who seemed fine at first may become uncomfortable or unwell. Err on the side of calling for help.
It is also a good idea to tell anyone due to visit that day, such as a delivery driver, cleaner or tradesperson, about the nest before they arrive.
Wasps on your property in Faversham?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.