Why Are Wasps Flying Into Your Barnsley Home? Common Causes and Solutions

Letting children and pets investigate the wasps is the common mistake; the aim for the household is to keep everyone calm and away until the nest is dealt with.

The mistake: letting curiosity take over

A wasp in the kitchen draws a crowd. Children want to watch it, the dog wants to chase it, and a visitor wants to show how to catch it in a jar. All of these are understandable, and all of them raise the chance of a sting.

When wasps keep coming into the house, the first task is a household plan that everyone follows. Wasps can sting more than once, they tend to defend themselves when cornered, and a sting that is trivial for most people can be serious for someone who is allergic. A few ground rules agreed in advance remove most of the risk.

Here is a checklist built around the people and animals in your home.

The household plan needs to be simple enough that everyone remembers it. A few lines on a note by the back door is enough: no swatting, stay away from the corner of the garden, drinks covered, shoes on. When a visitor arrives, it takes ten seconds to tell them the same.

Ground rules for the whole household

1. Nobody swats at a wasp or tries to catch it.
2. If a wasp lands on someone, they stay still or walk away slowly, and others do not flap at it.
3. Children are told where the suspected nest or gap is and that the area is out of bounds.
4. Drinks are kept covered or in lidded cups, and cans are checked before sipping.
5. Shoes are worn indoors and outdoors while wasps are around.
6. Windows are opened wide only when a wasp needs to leave, then closed or screened.

Children also notice things adults do not. If a child says they saw wasps going into a hole by the shed, take them seriously and look from a safe distance. They can be an excellent source of information about a flight line, as long as they do not go closer to prove it.

If you have young children

Children are curious and quick, and they often do not notice a wasp on a cup or a sandwich. Sit them away from the door and the bin area when eating outdoors. Check their cups and food before they put them to their mouths, particularly sweet drinks and ice lollies.

• Keep the paddling pool, sandpit and play equipment away from the suspected nest.
• Look at sticky fingers and faces after snacks, as these draw wasps.
• Teach older children to move away calmly rather than run and scream.
• Keep prams and cots away from open windows in rooms where wasps have been seen.

Wasps are often attracted to the smell of pet food and to the sugary contents of a bin. If the dog’s bowl is in the garden, move it. If the bin is near the nest, move it as far as practicable, without going near the nest yourself. Never pick up a wasp or try to remove it from an animal’s coat with bare hands.

Pets

• Feed the dog or cat indoors, and clear bowls promptly.
• Keep dogs on a lead near the suspected nest, as they may sniff at the entrance or snap at wasps.
• Do not leave pets in a garden with a ground nest.
• If a pet is stung on the face or mouth, or swells, contact a vet.

Cats and dogs both tend to chase insects, and the stings that result are often around the mouth or paws. Preventing the chase is much easier than treating the result.

Households with an allergic member should think about where that person sleeps and works. If the nest is close to their bedroom window, keep it closed and use another room if you can. Visitors should be told of the allergy, and the plan for what to do in a reaction should be where everyone can find it.

If someone is allergic

Anyone with a known allergy to wasp stings should keep a safe distance from the area, stay indoors with windows closed during busy periods, and follow any plan they have agreed with their GP. People who have never been checked but have previously reacted strongly to a sting should talk to their GP.

If someone is stung, wash the area, remove the sting if you can see it, and apply a cold pack. Call 999 for swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness, or a widespread rash. We cannot give medical advice beyond this, so for anything more, speak to a doctor or pharmacist.

When you book, tell us if anyone in the household is allergic so we can take it into account.

Plan the day of the visit, too. Keep children and pets indoors with windows closed while the technician works, make sure the way to the nest is clear of toys, bikes and garden furniture, and have someone available to answer the door or the gate. Afterwards, wait until you are told the area is safe before letting anyone back into the garden.

Getting the nest dealt with

We cover Barnsley, a South Yorkshire town, and surrounding villages, working for homes and for businesses. The technician is trained and fully insured. Treating a nest is a fixed £90, an additional nest on the same property is £35, and there is no call-out charge. The price is confirmed on the phone before the visit and nothing is done unless you agree.

Phone 0113 347 0014 or use the booking form on the contact page. We open seven days a week and offer same-day service. Describe where the wasps are going, and which parts of the garden your children and pets use, so the visit can be planned. If you would like the empty nest taken down afterwards, ask at booking whether that is possible.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Barnsley