Can You Remove a Wasp Nest Yourself? Advice for Hardres Homeowners
Pets do not understand warnings, so a nest in the garden turns every dog walk and cat patrol into a risk that the owner has to manage.
Animals and nests do not mix
A nest in the garden is a problem for people, but for pets it can be worse. A dog follows its nose and will happily investigate a hole in a bank or a buzzing hedge. A cat watches wasps and may swipe at them. Both can end up stung on the face, mouth or paws, and a dog that snaps at wasps may be stung inside the mouth, which is very serious.
If you live in Hardres with a dog or cat, you may think you can simply deal with the nest yourself while the animal is indoors. But the same hazards apply as for any household: a nest can hold anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps by August, and they can swarm and sting if threatened. Pets are part of the picture because they remain in the house or garden afterwards, near agitated wasps.
Nests begin from late April, depending on the weather, so a pet that has a spring and summer routine in the garden can meet a nest well before you notice it.
Think about how the animals behave at different times. A young dog is more curious than an old one, a hunting cat will stalk anything that moves, and both will return to a spot repeatedly if something has caught their attention. That repeated return is the danger, because a pet may visit the nest area several times a day without anyone noticing.
Changing the routine for now
Until the nest is treated, adjust how the animal uses the garden.
- Take dogs out on a lead for toilet trips and keep them away from the nest area.
- Use another part of the garden, or the front, if possible.
- Keep cats in, especially in the middle of the day, if they would otherwise patrol near the nest.
- Lock cat flaps on the nest side of the house.
- Bring food and water bowls indoors, because they draw wasps.
- Pick up pet food leftovers and chews, which attract insects.
Watch for pets showing a sudden interest in one spot, such as sniffing at a base of a hedge or staring at a corner of the roof. That is a hint that wasps are using the place.
If your dog is trained to a recall, use it. Call the animal in at the first sign of wasps, and reward it for coming. Do not run after a pet that has gone toward the nest, since you will end up closer yourself. Call calmly and from a distance.
When a pet is stung
Calmly bring the animal indoors, away from the nest. If you can see a sting, remove it by scraping, not squeezing. Keep the animal calm and quiet.
Call a vet without delay if the animal has been stung inside the mouth or throat, has swelling of the face, struggles to breathe, vomits, seems weak or collapses, or has been stung several times. Do not give any medicine to a pet unless a vet has told you to.
If a person is stung while helping, wash the sting, remove it if visible and use a cold pack. Seek emergency help on 999 if there is dizziness, wheezing or difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips or throat or a widespread rash. People with a known allergy should speak to their GP.
Afterwards, keep an eye on the animal for the rest of the day. Swelling can appear a little later, and a pet that is quiet, off its food or pawing at its face should be checked by a vet.
Why not do it while the pets are shut in?
A common idea is to shut the dog in the kitchen and quickly deal with the nest. The trouble is that wasps do not simply disappear. A disturbed nest releases insects that stay in the area and can be in the garden for hours. When the animal is let out, it meets them.
Wasps may also get indoors. A dog or cat shut in a room with a window open to the nest side may find itself face to face with wasps in a confined space.
A half-finished treatment is therefore doubly bad for animals. The best plan is to have the nest treated by a technician, after which you can ask about how long to keep animals away.
Before the visit, put animals in a room away from the work, close the door and keep the radio on to mask noise.
On the day of the visit, make sure pets are in a secure room with the windows closed. It is easy for a dog to slip out through a door being opened for the technician.
Booking the visit
The price for treating a nest is £120 flat, fixed, and Wasp Exterminator Kent guarantees one visit. A second nest on the property is £60 for the extra one. No call-out fee applies, and the figure stays the same at any hour. Technicians are fully insured and qualified.
Domestic and commercial customers are welcome, seven days a week. Appointments can be made for the same day, and evenings and weekends are covered. Booking is by phone on 01622 410 019 or through the online form on the contact page.
Mention the animals when you book, and ask the technician when it is safe for them to use the garden again. Ask also whether the empty nest can be taken down.
If you have outdoor animals, such as rabbits or guinea pigs in a hutch, move the hutch to a different part of the property and cover it, away from the nest. Tell the technician about any animals that live outside.
Wasps on your property in Hardres?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.