I have lots of yellowjackets around our yard which makes me uneasy gardening. What can I do?
Bees are actually good in the garden, especially for pollination, and are seldom a bother unless really provoked. Often confused with bees are yellowjackets, which pose a much more serious threat. Without barbs on their stingers as bees have, yellowjackets can repeatedly sting their victims. They are most active in late summer when their colonies reach their peak, and they need higher levels of protein-rich or sugary foods. Get rid of their most important human source of food, garbage, and you’ll go far towards getting rid of them. Keep garbage covered, and dispose of it frequently. You can also use food to trap them. Make traps of one-liter size soft drink bottles. Bait these with left over soda, cat food, ham, tuna, or over ripe fruit. Then place at the farthest corners of your property.
