Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in Killingbeck? Here's What to Do
With children and pets in the house, a loft nest needs sensible precautions until the technician arrives. Here is a plan for keeping them clear.
The dog, the landing and the buzzing
The family dog keeps sitting at the bottom of the stairs, staring at the ceiling and whining. A child says there is a wasp in their bedroom for the third time this week. Now there is also a faint hum above the landing.
Children and pets do not understand the risk, so the adults have to manage it. If you are in Killingbeck and have a loft nest in mind, here is how to keep them safe until it is dealt with.
Dogs and cats are curious, and a wasp moving across a ceiling or window is irresistible to them. Children can be just as inquisitive, and some will want to look at the wasps or trap them in a cup.
A few clear rules for everyone in the house, repeated gently, are more effective than a long lecture. Nobody goes near the loft hatch, and nobody tries to catch or hit a wasp.
This is also a good moment to check any sting treatment advice your family has already received from a GP or pharmacist, so everyone knows what the plan is.
Making the house safe for children
- Move children’s sleeping and play areas to rooms well away from the loft.
- Keep the landing and bedroom doors closed.
- Explain in simple terms: wasps are not to be touched, swatted or chased.
- Teach them to walk away calmly if a wasp lands on them.
- Cover sweet food and drinks, and wipe sticky hands and faces.
Check shoes and clothes before wearing them, because a wasp can hide in a sleeve or a trainer.
If a child is anxious, reassure them. Wasps do not sting for fun; they sting when they feel threatened, and a calm child who walks away from a wasp is very unlikely to be stung. Staying still when one lands, rather than flapping, is worth practising.
Outdoors, keep drinks covered, particularly open cans and juice cartons, because a wasp can crawl inside unnoticed.
Older children can help by keeping a tally of where they see wasps, which turns a worry into a small job and gives you good information for the phone call.
Looking after the pets
Keep cats and dogs out of the rooms where wasps are seen. Dogs especially may try to snap at wasps, which is a quick way to get stung in the mouth. Feed pets away from the affected area and keep their bowls covered when not in use.
If a pet is stung, or you see swelling around the face or difficulty breathing, contact a vet straight away. We cannot give veterinary advice.
Bring pets in at times when the wasps seem most active, such as the warm part of the afternoon, and use a different door from the one nearest the roof entrance. Keep cats away from windows where wasps gather.
If your dog has the habit of snapping at insects, put on a lead for toilet breaks in the garden near the affected side of the house.
If you have small animals such as rabbits or guinea pigs in a hutch indoors or outdoors, cover the hutch with a light cloth during the warmest hours so wasps cannot settle on it.
Booking, and how fast
Phone 0113 347 0014, or use the online booking form on the contact page. We cover Killingbeck and the wider Leeds area, and same-day service is offered seven days a week, for both homes and businesses.
The charge is a fixed £90 per nest, no call-out charge, confirmed on the phone first. An additional nest on the same property is £35. Nothing happens until you have agreed. If anyone in the home is allergic to wasp stings, let us know when you book.
When you ring, mention the pets and children so we can plan. We will tell you what to expect and how to arrange the household on the day.
Same-day service means that for many households the whole problem is handled quickly, which is a relief when little ones are involved.
Make a note of how many people and animals live in the house, and any particular needs, since these details help us advise you sensibly on the day.
During the visit
Plan for the children and pets to be in a far part of the house or out, as the technician works. Close the door and ask everyone not to come in. Our technicians are trained and fully insured, and they will tell you when the rooms are safe to use again.
Ask whether the empty nest can be taken down if you would like it gone, since children can be curious about anything left in the loft.
A tidy house helps the visit. Put away toys on the landing, move baby equipment out of the way and keep the hatch area clear so the technician can work without having to shift things.
Switch off the television and music for a few minutes around the time of the visit, so everyone can hear any instruction from the technician without fuss.
Afterwards
Clear dead wasps from the floor before the children and pets return. Wear gloves, use a brush and pan or a vacuum and bag them. Check under furniture, since pets can find what you miss.
If a child is stung, wash the area, remove the sting if visible and use a cold pack. Swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing, difficulty breathing, dizziness or a spreading rash require an immediate 999 call.
Take the opportunity to talk to the children about what has happened, and reassure them the wasps have been dealt with. Pets will settle once the hum above has stopped.
Then reward the patient ones with a treat; a calm household makes a visit easier for everyone, including the technician.
Wasps on your property in Killingbeck?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.