Field Report: Wasp Nests Stop a Squirrel Job on a Third Floor in Sylvan Park
Field Reports are real jobs from our technicians, written up so neighbors can learn from what we’re finding. We never share addresses.
A wildlife company showed up at an older home in Nashville’s Sylvan Park neighborhood to deal with squirrels in the attic. Before they could set traps and seal up the entry points, they ran into a different problem: wasp nests in several spots on the home’s third floor, right where they needed to work. The squirrel job couldn’t go forward safely, so the homeowner called us.
What we found
Our technician Julian, who has four years in the pest control industry, went out with our service manager. Up on the ladder, they found paper wasp nests built into the eaves and roof overhangs, and wasps working their way into small cracks in the brick and siding. Around the third-floor attic windows, there were signs that wasps were getting inside the attic as well.
Why this home
A few things lined up here. It’s an older home, and older homes tend to have more gaps around trim, siding, and brick as the years go by. This one had plenty of them. Sylvan Park’s mature trees put wasps close by, and the high eaves and overhangs gave them sheltered, out-of-reach places to build. It’s also been a record-dry stretch in Nashville, which our team noted as another factor on this job.
The fix
Julian and our service manager worked from the ladder to remove the wasp nests from the eaves and overhangs on the third floor. Then they went into the attic and treated around the attic windows, where the wasps appeared to be getting in. Clearing the wasps out first gives the wildlife crew a safe path to get back to work on the squirrels.
One thing to check this month
Our team’s tip is simple: go outside in the middle of the day, when wasps are most active, and spend a few minutes watching your roofline, eaves, and upper windows. If you see wasps flying back and forth to the same spot, or to several spots, that’s a telltale sign they’re setting up shop. It’s much easier to deal with a nest early than after it’s grown, and nests on a second or third story are best left to someone with the right ladder and equipment.
Not sure what you’re looking at? Our paper wasp guide and stinging insects guide can help you tell them apart, and our post on hornets vs. wasps covers why nests near your home deserve attention.
How U.S. Pest helps
Wasp nest removal within reach is part of every visit on our monthly, every other month, and quarterly plans. For nests that are high up, inside walls, or getting into the attic, like this one, our wasp removal service sends a technician with the equipment to reach them safely. Everything we do is backed by our Whatever It Takes Guarantee.
Seeing wasps around your roofline? Call 615-590-1260 or schedule a free inspection.
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FAQs
Why do wasps build nests in eaves and overhangs?
Eaves, overhangs, and soffits give wasps a sheltered spot out of the rain and away from predators, and on taller homes they’re hard for people to reach. Gaps in trim, brick, and siding nearby can also let them get into walls and attics.
How can I tell if wasps are nesting on my house?
Watch your roofline in the middle of the day, when wasps are most active. If you see them flying back and forth to the same spot, or to several spots, there’s likely a nest there.
Should I remove a wasp nest myself?
Not if it’s high up, inside a wall, or near an attic opening. Disturbing a nest can bring several wasps out at once, and that’s especially dangerous on a ladder. Call a professional for nests you can’t safely reach.
Can wasps get into my attic?
Yes. On this Sylvan Park job, wasps appeared to be getting into the attic around the third-floor windows. Small cracks and gaps around windows, vents, and siding can give them a way in.
