Bald Faced Hornet's Nest Removal?

[Utilitrack]

Hi All-
I figured that with the wealth of knowledge here that someone has successfully done battle with these bad boys. The nest has obviously been there for most of the year without incident, but now that we know it is present we are very wary of the area in our yard which we regularly frequent due to mowing, berry picking, and the pool.
My question is this do I wait to remove in the fall? Do I eradicate the nest now and if so how? I watched a few online "how to" videos yesterday, one included an airsoft gun assault followed by Wasp & Hornet spray, my son was pretty excited about that option, but he and I are both allergic, and I am concerned what the spray would do to the young maple tree that is the hornet's current home. The other video demonstrated how to duct tape the opening in the early morning and cutting it away whole and then disposing of the nest and all it inhabitants. This demo was done on a vacated nest, so not sure that an occupied nest would be so easy. I do not wish to be that close to the nest with 400 angry hornets trying to escape what amounts to a paper bag.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Utilitrack]

Oops, not sure why the pictures are sideways?

 

[wahoowad]

That tree doesn't look too tall. If it was me I would buy a can of the streaming hornet spray and saturate that nest early one morning while they are still inactive. The spray is good for 20' or so. Start spraying the opening really well.

I'd probably get my step ladder out there and take a few steps up to close the distance so I could be more accurate.

Note - This is coming from a guy who bought 2 cans of spray and could not erradicate some yellow jackets in my siding behind my electrical panel. I decided to get a pro as further spraying had me paranoid about getting electrocuted. The pro used a powder called Drione Dust that eliminated them that day. You would have to rig up some kind of long blow pipe to try and get dust in that hole. I'd consider that as plan B if the spray doesn't work.

 

[Utilitrack]

That tree doesn't look too tall. If it was me I would buy a can of the streaming hornet spray and saturate that nest early one morning while they are still inactive. The spray is good for 20' or so. Start spraying the opening really well.

I'd probably get my step ladder out there and take a few steps up to close the distance so I could be more accurate.

Note - This is coming from a guy who bought 2 cans of spray and could not erradicate some yellow jackets in my siding behind my electrical panel. I decided to get a pro as further spraying had me paranoid about getting electrocuted. The pro used a powder called Drione Dust that eliminated them that day. You would have to rig up some kind of long blow pipe to try and get dust in that hole. I'd consider that as plan B if the spray doesn't work.

What will the spray do to the young tree? As you pointed out it is only 10' tall, I planted it last year.

 

[1kzwoman]

If I were allergic I would call a professional or a brother in law to remove it. The allergy thing can kill you with one sting let alone a nest.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I do pest control and nuisance wildlife for a living.

The spray won't hurt the tree. At least the stuff we use wont. Dust is awesome along with aerosols. When dealing with bald faced hornets I typically use all 3 as I don't want to screw around with them. I'd also have my bee suit on. They're nasty.

If you're allergic, hire a pro. It should be less than 2 bills to remove it. Think of how much it'll cost if you get stung and have to rush to the ER.

 

[Jags]

What Matt said. If I were allergic to stings, I would be sitting at the bar with a beer in hand while the pros got the job done.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

What Matt said. If I were allergic to stings, I would be sitting at the bar with a beer in hand while the pros got the job done.

Our next job was bald faced hornets. We thought it was. going to be yellowjackets. It was over a pool so we couldn't get as close as I would have liked. We used a 3 ft foam gun to keep them in and then aerosol to kill them.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

 

[Jags]

I hit them with the foamy type spray and then run like a scared school girl (including the screeches).

 

[EatenByLimestone]

My buddy wanted to film me falling into the pool. That would have been fun to post!

 

[Utilitrack]

My buddy wanted to film me falling into the pool. That would have been fun to post!

Thanks for the advice Matt, I will probably call a pro in. I was wondering though is there any harm in letting them vacate on their own in the fall and then removing the empty nest?

 

[EatenByLimestone]

If it's not in the way and people don't get in their way I don't see an issue with leaving them alone.

I ran it by my buddy and he thinks if it is 20 or 30 feet out of the way it should be fine. We can't tell height from the pics.

Once the flowers go away they will become more aggressive looking for sweet stuff... soda, beer, etc. Maybe you could wait to see if it's a problem then. It will be scarier to take down then though. I get spooked in the bee suit.

Matt, the official scaredy cat.

 

[blades]

I did the air rifle assault thing several years back, really peppered the nest ( I was using High power air rifles not air soft ) Birds stated to do some work after that and mother nature finished the job in a few day with a big rain storm which destroyed the nest. It was around 30 or so feet up in a big Ginkgo tree right above my splitting area. We were not getting along. This year they are somewhere in the woods behind the house, but far enough away that they do not pose a problem so far.

 

[Hogwildz]

I got stung 2x by them a couple weeks ago, not a pretty sight.
Almost made a trip to the emergency room.

Waiting on a cooler morning to get my old roofing torch out and blast the SOBs.
If you spray with the can with jet spray, be prepared to run, and prolly get stung.

 

[semipro]

I usually just leave them alone until they 'deactivate' in cold weather and then knock the nest down.
We have a nest under our porch that I pass almost everyday. No attacks yet.
Live and let live.....at least until there's a problem.

 

[maple1]

I would wait it out.

Those things are nasty - about the nastiest thing there is.

I had a yellow hornet nest in a wood stack this summer. I gave the stack a crack with a split last night, and got no response. They're gone. I realize yellow hornets aren't black bald face ones, but they should be vacating in the next month or so - maybe.

 

[heat seeker]

How would you like a yellow jacket nest like this one? Estimated 1,000 stingers in it.

(broken link removed to http://www.wfsb.com/story/26244511/faulkville-man-discovers-massive-yellow-jacket-nest)

 

[osagebow]

I hit them with the foamy type spray and then run like a scared school girl (including the screeches).

This is my M.O. as well. I go night ops, and wait till it's cool. I Also am allergic, so I suit up as well. Carhart coveralls, fonzie jacket, gloves,hoodie, forest helmet. I'm 3 for 3. None even came out, but ya never know.

 

[Utilitrack]

Just an update on this, I decided to try to let them vacate on their own in the Fall tactic, they weren't bothering anyone until yesterday morning... I was taking the dogs out at 4:45am (puppy) Anyways these basturds evidently aren't a fan of my security light right beside the doorway, when I got back to the door to go back in 30-40 of them were swarming the light and bouncing off my french doors, they are highly agitated, I grab the pup and burst through into the house unscathed. So fast forward to this AM, today I get up a 5am (still dark) to see where they are coming from, I turn on the light and within minutes they are appearing from the darkness in the direction of the nest and again begin attacking the light.

So live and let live has gone by the wayside and planning the assault begins. Here is my general plan:
1) Thick clothing, full facemask, ski goggles, gloves etc.
2) Military style assault scheduled for dusk.
3) First volley will be to hit the main hole with Hornet and Wasp spray, then continue to wet down the entire nest.
4) Phase two will be to shoot it with my son's pellet gun to open it up some more, then hit again with the spray.
5) I will then cut it down and kill it with fire.

 

[stee6043]

I get the heeby jeebies just reading this thread. But at the same time you have to love the challenge. It's us vs them. Survival of the fittest here. You have superior firepower on your side...assuming you get the jump on them. Show no mercy.

I've had way too many bee's nests on or about my deck in the past 6 years that I finally started using Demon WP every month (during the warm months) last year. I spray EVERYTHING. So far...2 years of no nests. Once you get rid of this nest you might want to consider how you prevent future nests from showing up.

 

[1kzwoman]

Just an update on this, I decided to try to let them vacate on their own in the Fall tactic, they weren't bothering anyone until yesterday morning... I was taking the dogs out at 4:45am (puppy) Anyways these basturds evidently aren't a fan of my security light right beside the doorway, when I got back to the door to go back in 30-40 of them were swarming the light and bouncing off my french doors, they are highly agitated, I grab the pup and burst through into the house unscathed. So fast forward to this AM, today I get up a 5am (still dark) to see where they are coming from, I turn on the light and within minutes they are appearing from the darkness in the direction of the nest and again begin attacking the light.

So live and let live has gone by the wayside and planning the assault begins. Here is my general plan:
1) Thick clothing, full facemask, ski goggles, gloves etc.
2) Military style assault scheduled for dusk.
3) First volley will be to hit the main hole with Hornet and Wasp spray, then continue to wet down the entire nest.
4) Phase two will be to shoot it with my son's pellet gun to open it up some more, then hit again with the spray.
5) I will then cut it down and kill it with fire.

Your allergic???? As I recall....I hope you survive and the hornets do not . Your leave them in place call would have been good if they cooperated.
Hope you get through your new plan safely

 

[semipro]

So live and let live has gone by the wayside and planning the assault begins.

Much as I like the "live and let live" thing I'm still tempted to poke a hornets nest every time I see one.

 

[Warm_in_NH]

I gotta admit I've been "watching" this thread waiting for this very moment. It's like watching a boat heading for the reef, you know it's gonna be bad but you can't look away.

If it's within reach, gear up and then just bag it and let em suffocate.

If you decide to shoot it up just be mindful of what's behind it as those pellets will keep on going.

Good luck!

 

[bobdog2o02]

Nice Boots, Thats what i wear for work boots.