Got chased by a swarm of wasps while framing a deck last July, still not over it

I was out in Greenville building a two-story deck and accidentally knocked over a nest hidden in the old lattice. Ran halfway across the yard with a framing hammer in my hand before I realized I could just drop it and run faster. Now I walk every job site three times before I start cutting anything.

2 comments

2 Comments

the_wade3d ago

Man, that's rough. Last summer I was trimming some overgrown bushes near a client's back porch and a yellow jacket nest came pouring out of a hole in the ground. I tripped over a garden hose and landed right on top of my bucket of tools. Got stung three times on my arm before I could scramble up and get inside. Now I'm paranoid about every little hole I see in the yard.

brianm273d ago

Keep that paranoia, @the_wade - it'll save you. I found a trick after getting nailed myself: before I start any digging or trimming near bushes, I pour a bucket of soapy water down any holes I see. The soap breaks the surface tension so the yellow jackets can't float, and it flushes them out without spraying poison everywhere (which I hate doing near plants people actually want). Another thing - wear leather gloves when you're messing with ground cover, not those flimsy garden ones. Stings barely get through the thick leather, learned that the hard way after getting hit on the knuckles. And don't ever stand directly over a hole, lean in from the side so if they come pouring out you can bail sideways instead of falling backwards over a hose or bucket.