Wasps Around Your Guttering and Fascias? How to Find the Nest in Stone Cross
Pets are curious, they cannot be told to stay away, and a wasp nest at the roof edge puts a sniffing nose or a paw within reach of dozens of defensive insects.
Why pets are at particular risk
A dog that investigates the base of a wall, or a cat that likes to sit beneath a warm fascia, does not understand that wasps are guarding something just above. Animals tend to snap at flying insects, nose at a gap or scratch at a board, all of which provoke the colony. Stings around the face, mouth and paws are painful and can swell quickly.
Unlike a person, a pet cannot be asked to keep away. The responsibility lies with you, and a few practical measures make the difference between a quiet week and a trip to the vet.
If an animal has already been stung and seems unwell, contact your vet. This is a general safety note, and I cannot advise on animal treatment.
Pets also bring wasps indoors in unexpected ways. A wasp can ride on fur, and a dog that has been rolling near the wall may carry the smell of the nest on its coat. When animals come in from the garden, it is worth a quick glance at them and the doorway, particularly if you can hear a buzz.
Managing the garden day to day
The aim is simple: keep animals away from the wall with the nest and from the flight path to and from it. Dogs on walks need only a change of door; dogs in the garden need more care.
- Use a lead in the garden, or fence off the area beneath the nest.
- Let the dog out through a different door, away from the affected wall.
- Keep cats indoors during the busy parts of the day, usually late morning to late afternoon.
- Move bird feeders, bowls and kennels away from the wall.
- Pick up food scraps and fallen fruit, which draw wasps to the same area as the animals.
Walking routes are worth thinking about too. If the nest is above the side gate or the path to the bins, a dog on a lead is far safer than one running ahead. Keep the lead short as you pass, and do not stop beneath the roof edge to chat or fiddle with the latch.
Small animals and outdoor housing
Rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens kept outdoors are especially vulnerable, since they cannot move away from the problem and may be near a shed or house wall. If a hutch or run is close to the nest, move it to the other side of the garden if you safely can, and do so in the cool of the evening when wasps are quiet.
Cover food bowls and water dishes, because wasps are attracted to both. If you keep a pond or a paddling pool for the dog, check that wasps are not drinking at its edge near the nest.
If you have a cat flap close to the affected wall, consider locking it for a day or two. A cat coming through the flap at the wrong moment, with wasps buzzing around the door, can be stung, and so can the person reaching to let it in. A locked flap is a small and temporary inconvenience.
What not to do
Do not leave a dog to deal with wasps itself, and do not encourage it to chase them. Do not spray anything near the nest, and do not try to block the gap. Do not use a ladder to look at the entrance.
People are also at risk. If someone in the household is stung, wash the area, remove the sting if it is visible and apply a cold pack. Swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing, dizziness or a widespread rash needs a call to 999. Anyone with a known allergy should speak to their GP.
Wasps can be drawn by pet food, so feed animals indoors for now, and clear bowls away promptly after meals. A bowl of wet food left outdoors on a warm afternoon is a magnet for them, especially in late summer when the colony is at its largest.
Some owners like to inspect a spot where a pet has been stung. Please do not go and prod it. Treat any area where an animal has reacted as part of the danger zone, and let the technician look at it first.
Treatment day
On the day of the visit, keep the pets indoors in a room away from the affected wall, with the door closed. The technician is fully insured and qualified, and will need clear access without animals underfoot.
The price is a fixed £120 per nest, with no call-out charge and one visit guaranteed. An additional nest at the same address is £60 extra on top. Afterwards, ask the technician when it is safe to let the animals back out, and whether the empty nest can be taken down.
Keep a note of how your pet behaves after the visit. Animals sometimes stay alert near a spot where they have been stung, and may want to keep checking it. Walk them past on a short lead for the first few days, and discourage sniffing at the wall.
Booking in Stone Cross
Ring 01622 410 019 or use the online booking form on the contact page. The business is open seven days a week, with same-day service and evening and weekend appointments for homes and commercial premises.
Tell the office if anyone in the household is allergic to stings, so that the visit can be prioritised. Have the gap repaired afterwards, to stop another nest forming.
When the nest is gone, take a moment to mention to the technician anything else you have noticed, such as wasps near a kennel or a shed. They may be able to point out other spots to keep an eye on.
Wasps on your property in Stone Cross?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.