Can You Remove a Wasp Nest Yourself? Advice for Scholes Homeowners
With children and pets around, a wasp nest in the garden calls for a cautious response. Here is how to keep everyone safe until a technician arrives.
Why a family garden changes the answer
For a household without children or animals, a wasp nest is a nuisance to avoid. For a family it is something else: a hazard in the place where the kids play and the dog roams. That is the first reason we would say no to DIY removal. If something goes wrong, the people in the firing line are not only the adult holding the can.
A disturbed nest releases defenders quickly. Wasps that are alarmed will target moving things, and a child running away is a moving thing. Small bodies take stings at a higher proportion of their size, and children are less likely to stand still when told to. Pets, especially curious dogs, may snap at the wasps and make the situation worse.
This advice is for families in Scholes and the wider Leeds area, whether the nest is in the shed, the hedge, the eaves or the ground.
What a DIY attempt does to a family household
People who try to remove a nest themselves often do it while the children are inside. That sounds sensible, but it overlooks what happens afterwards. Wasps that have been stirred up can spread around the garden, hang about near the back door and enter the house when it is opened. A game of football the next afternoon can end in tears.
There is also the practical question of who will do it. One adult stays near the nest, another watches the children. If the first is stung or falls, the second has to deal with an urgent situation and a swarm at once. It is a lot to ask of a household on a summer weekend.
In short, the risk is not only to the person doing the job. It is spread across the whole family, and that is a good reason to hand it over to someone trained.
Practical steps for the days before the visit
You can make the garden safer straight away, with no special equipment:
- Tell every child, in plain words, where the nest is and that they must not go near it, throw things at it or try to look closer.
- Keep a gate or door closed between the nest area and the play area where possible.
- Bring toys, paddling pools and garden furniture away from the nest side.
- Keep dogs on a lead or indoors when they go out, and take them out the front if the nest is at the back.
- Watch food and drinks outdoors, as wasps are drawn to sugar and meat.
- Check that nobody is leaving bins or compost heaps open nearby.
If you have a pet that has been stung, such as a dog that went for a wasp, contact your vet for advice. We cannot give animal medical guidance.
If someone is stung
Stay calm and move the person away from the area first. Wash the sting with soap and water, remove the sting if you can see it, and hold a cold pack to the skin. Watch the person for a while afterwards.
Call 999 if there is difficulty breathing or wheezing, dizziness, a widespread rash, or swelling of the face, lips or throat. A person with a known allergy should speak to their GP about what to do. Do not wait to see whether it passes if breathing is affected.
Younger children may become upset out of proportion to the sting itself, so it helps to reassure them. A short, calm explanation that the nest is being dealt with by someone trained tends to ease worries about going back outside.
Talking to children, and looking after pets
Children cope better when they understand a rule. Tell them there is a wasp nest at a particular spot, that the wasps are guarding their home, and that the grown-ups have called someone to deal with it. Give them one simple instruction, such as staying on the patio side of the garden, and keep reinforcing it.
Avoid turning it into a dare or a game. Children who are curious about a nest sometimes want to watch it, and a pointing finger or a thrown stone is the quickest way to get someone stung. If a wasp lands on a child, show them how to stay still or brush it off gently rather than flap and run. Calm behaviour from adults sets the tone.
If you have a child with a known allergy, talk to your GP about a plan for the summer, and make sure everyone who looks after them knows what to do.
Dogs and cats are often more at risk than people, because they investigate with their noses and mouths. A dog that snaps at a wasp can be stung on the muzzle or tongue, which is painful and can swell. Cats that stalk insects near a nest can get stung on the paws or face.
Keep pets away from the nest area, and avoid letting them roam unsupervised in the garden while wasps are active. Bring water bowls and food inside, as wasps are attracted to pet food left outdoors. If a pet is stung and the face swells or breathing seems laboured, contact a vet straight away.
Getting it dealt with
You pay a fixed £90 for each nest we treat, dropping to £35 for an additional nest on the same property. No call-out charge applies, and we are open every day of the week with same-day service offered. We are open 7 days a week and same-day service is offered, for homes and for businesses. Every visit is made by a trained technician, and the work is fully insured.
You will be told the price on the phone before a visit, and no work is carried out without your agreement. Call 0113 347 0014, or send the form on the contact page, to arrange a visit. If anyone in the family is allergic to wasp stings, say so when you book so we can take it into account.
When the technician arrives, keep the children and pets indoors and away from windows facing the nest. Ask them afterwards when it is sensible to let everyone back into the garden.
Wasps on your property in Scholes?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.