We often see log homes and problems with yellow jackets. They are no joke and can sting repeatedly!
This has been a particularly bad year for yellow jackets. Our crews have been bothered by them a lot while repairing log homes. They can be a real nuisance, especially when you run into them unexpectedly. Unlike a honeybee, which can only sting once, yellow jackets can sting multiple times.
Yellow jackets are wasps, not bees, though they are often confused with honeybees. Yellow jackets are not picky about where they set up home; they build nests both above and below the ground. Since they are often referred to as bees, they have given honeybees a bad name when it comes to dealing with them.
As you can see from the photos above, you may have honeybees or yellow jackets. It makes a difference. Beekeepers may be able to capture a swarm nesting in your home and give them a job to do in their apiary, where they can live long and happy lives. Yellow jackets, on the other hand, may require an exterminator to remove them.
The bottom line: yellow jackets do NOT make good neighbors.
