Wasp Nests Under Roof Tiles – A Common Problem for Luddesdown Homes
Dogs, cats, rabbits and hens are just as exposed as people when a nest sits above their patch. Here is how to protect them and when to call.
Animals do not know what is overhead
People can read the signs and keep clear. Animals cannot. A dog that likes to lie against a sunny wall, a cat that sits on the shed roof, rabbits in a hutch beside the back door and hens in a run next to the garage all spend their days close to buildings, and none of them has any idea there may be a nest above.
A nest in the roof is not usually aggressive when left alone. But wasps respond to a sudden bark, a scrabble on a tile or a hutch being knocked, and animals are far more likely than people to make that kind of disturbance.
Luddesdown has plenty of gardens with animals in them, so it is worth thinking about your own set-up.
Horses, goats and other larger animals are even more of a concern, because their size and strength mean a sudden panic can do harm to themselves and to people. If a nest is close to a stable or yard, treat it as a priority.
Moving pets out of the flight path
Start by identifying the part of the roof the wasps use and the line they take to and from it. Then think about where your animals spend their time in relation to that.
- Move hutches, runs and kennels to the far side of the garden, well away from the wall below the entry.
- Bring bowls of food and water indoors, since wasps are drawn to both.
- Keep dogs on a lead or indoors when going past the affected wall.
- Keep cats inside during the day if the nest is above their usual route.
- Check that nothing sweet or meaty is left on the ground near the building.
If you cannot move a heavy hutch, put a screen or a fence panel between it and the nest, and keep the animals inside the hutch with a covered front during the day.
Keep a note of where each animal usually settles during the day. If you can see that a favourite sunny spot is directly below the entry, make that spot off limits for the time being.
Reading your animals' reactions
Pets sometimes notice a nest before their owners do. A dog that snaps at the air near the eaves, a cat that stares fixedly at one corner of the roof, or a horse that seems agitated in a yard beside an outbuilding may be reacting to the wasps.
This is a useful hint, but it is not proof. Use it to prompt a careful look from a safe distance, rather than any closer inspection. Keep your animals away from the area and wait for a technician to confirm what is there.
Never encourage a dog to investigate. A dog that is stung on the nose or in the mouth can suffer swelling, and that is a risk to its breathing.
If you keep birds in an aviary, remember that they are likely to be disturbed by wasps near the cage, and may peck at them through the mesh.
If an animal is stung
Take the animal away from the area calmly. Look for the sting and, if you can see it, remove it. Keep an eye on the animal for a while, and watch for swelling, drooling, trouble breathing, vomiting or unusual lethargy.
Animals can react badly to stings, particularly in the mouth, throat or face. Contact your vet promptly in any of those cases, or if you are worried at all. Do not give any medicine without a vet's advice.
For people in the household, the guidance is the same as for any sting: wash the area, remove the sting if visible and use a cold pack. Swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing, trouble breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash in a person mean a 999 call.
A vet will be able to advise on what is normal for your animal. Keep their number handy in the summer months, particularly if you know your animal has reacted to stings before.
Do not try to deal with the nest yourself
A ladder and a spray from a hardware shop are not the answer. Climbing up puts you right next to the nest, and a spray bought off the shelf may irritate the colony and send the wasps out in force, straight past your animals.
Blocking the hole is just as unwise, as it pushes wasps towards other exits. A trapped colony can find its way into outbuildings, stables or utility rooms where animals are kept.
Wait for the technician. In the meantime, keep your animals clear of the area, and keep the area itself calm and quiet.
Think about the routes your animals take too. A path from the back door to the field that passes beneath the nest is as risky as the garden itself.
Booking and the visit
Pricing is simple, at a fixed £120 per nest, without any call-out cost. Another nest at the same address is £60 extra, no more. The graphic on the price list says you get one visit guaranteed, and nothing is added for an awkward site.
The business is open seven days a week, with evening and weekend appointments and same-day service. Call 01622 410 019, or fill in the booking form, which can also be used to ask for emergency help out of hours. Domestic and commercial customers are served alike, so a farm shop, stables or kennels is treated like a house.
On the day, keep your animals indoors or well away. Once the nest is treated, wait until the technician says it is fine to let them out. Ask about taking down the empty nest, and have the gap repaired afterwards.
Wasps on your property in Luddesdown?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.