Tree and shrub nests
Nests in branches are reached with poles or ladders. If the nest is far from where people walk, the technician may advise waiting until the colony dies back in the cold, and explains the trade-off.
Urgent? Phones answered 24/7
Hornet Nest Removal in Seattle
Large paper nests in trees, shrubs and eaves are identified before anything is done, then removed by a technician.
- Phones answered 24/7
- Damp wood and crawl-space pests
- Price confirmed before treatment
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (855) 974-4733. Or send this and we call you back.
Hornet Nests
Hornet Nest Removal: what it covers
Quick answer
Hornet nest removal in Seattle starts with identifying the insect, because a large grey paper nest could belong to several kinds of wasp. A technician then decides whether to remove it and how. Do not disturb the nest first. Seattle Pest Control connects King County callers with an independent local company; a same-day visit is offered when a technician is free.
A big paper nest hanging in a tree or from a roof edge looks alarming, and people tend to want it gone at once. The wiser first step is to find out what lives in it. Several wasps build aerial paper nests, and they differ in temperament, in the season they are active and in whether they are a danger to anyone. This page stays cautious about species detail, because the Washington State University material it relies on covers yellowjackets and paper wasps rather than hornets by name.
What can be said is practical. Look from a distance, note where the nest is and how busy the entrance is, keep people and pets away and let a trained technician identify it. Seattle Pest Control is a call line, answered 24/7, that connects you with an independent local pest-control company. A same-day visit is offered only when a technician is free, and no arrival time is promised. The technician confirms the price before any treatment begins.
- Service area
- Seattle & King County
- Availability
- Phones answered 24/7, emergencies first
- Phone
- (855) 974-4733
Warning signs
Signs you need hornet nest removal
Never approach, spray, hit or throw anything at a hornet or large wasp nest, and do not climb a ladder next to one. If stung and you develop swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing, dizziness or widespread hives, call 911.
- A large grey, papery nest hanging from a branch, a roof edge, a fence or a shed, often rounder or more elongated than a paper wasp's open comb
- Many wasps flying steadily to and from a single point high up, rather than visiting flowers
- Wasps that fly out toward people who walk near a tree or the corner of a house
- A nest that has grown noticeably over several weeks, particularly through late summer
- Chewed bark or wood fibers on a fence or porch rail, which wasps use for nest paper
- A buzzing sound from inside an eave, soffit or attic vent
- Dead wasps on a window sill or floor indoors near the nest
- A nest above a doorway, a deck, a play area or a gate, where people pass daily
Our process
How our hornet nest removal visit works
Tell us what and where
Describe the nest's size, shape and height, and how close it is to doors and paths. A photo from a safe distance helps. Phones are answered 24/7, and a same-day visit is offered only when a technician is free.
Keep your distance
Do not knock the nest down, spray it, throw anything at it or cut a branch that holds it. A disturbed colony may defend itself, and the nest is easier to remove intact.
Identify the wasp
The technician confirms the insect from the nest shape, the flight pattern and the insects themselves. Identification decides whether this is a removal job, a wait-and-see or a different service.
Assess the position
Height, the surrounding structure, nearby windows and where people walk set the plan. A nest high in a tree needs different equipment from one under a porch roof.
Agree the price, then act
The price is confirmed with you before work. Removal uses protective clothing and labelled products, and the technician tells you how long to keep children and pets away afterward.
Dispose of the nest and check back
The nest is taken away so scavengers do not return to it. Colonies are annual, so a new nest in the same place next year is possible, and the technician suggests what to look for in spring.
Cost
How much does hornet nest removal cost in Seattle?
No outside price for hornet nest removal is printed here. What moves a quote is below.
| Job | Typical range | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Height of the nest | Varies | A nest at head height under a porch is simpler than one in a tall tree |
| Equipment needed | Varies | Poles, ladders or a lift add to the work, and protective gear is part of the job |
| Nest size | Varies | A late-season nest can be large and need more than one application |
| Structure involved | Quoted separately | Nests inside walls, soffits or chimneys call for opening or repair work |
| Repeat visits | Ask when booking | Some jobs need a check a few days later |
Your exact price is confirmed on site before work starts. The Seattle cost guide explains the general factors.
What kind of insect is it before it is a hornet?
A large grey paper nest could belong to a bald-faced hornet, a yellowjacket, a paper wasp or another species. Each acts differently. A technician identifies the insect from the nest and the wasps themselves, since guessing can lead to the wrong method or an unnecessary removal.
Bald-faced hornets are often grouped with the yellowjackets, and their nests are typically covered, enclosed paper spheres or teardrops hung from branches or eaves. Paper wasps build open combs. Yellowjackets often nest in the ground or in voids.
Treat any rule of thumb about hornet behavior with care, since local guidance names them less often than yellowjackets. The safe course is to identify before acting.
When are nests most dangerous?
Late summer into fall, when colonies are largest. WSU PestSense and HortSense describe yellowjacket colonies peaking at the end of summer, with August to September most troublesome, and other aerial nests follow the same annual rhythm of a spring start and a late-season peak. Nests die back with cold and are not reused.
The risk is highest where people pass close to the nest. A nest over a path or a door is a hazard even when the wasps seem calm.
Once the weather turns cold, the colony dies and the empty nest is harmless. Whether to remove one in winter is a matter of preference.
Can I take down a nest myself?
It is not advised for a large or active nest near people. WSU advises against swatting and recommends professionals for nests near where people live. The risk is a swarm of defensive wasps, and about one to two percent of people are severely allergic to stings. A small, dry, empty nest in winter can be removed carefully.
If anyone in the household is allergic, or if the nest is above head height, call. A ladder and angry wasps are a bad combination.
For an empty winter nest, wear gloves and bag it. Do not hang it up as a decoration. Another queen may be attracted to the site.
Will removal stop them coming back?
Not by itself. Colonies are annual, but a queen may choose the same site in spring. Closing gaps in soffits and vents, keeping eaves in repair and checking for small early nests in April and May reduces the chance. There is no guarantee against a new nest.
A nest that was in the same eave two years running is likely a sign that the site is attractive. A technician can often point out why.
Ask for a spring check if you have had a nest before. Catching a new nest at the size of a walnut is easy compared with a late-summer one.
Options
Types and options for hornet nest removal
Eave and soffit nests
Nests on a structure are treated and then removed, and gaps are closed so a new queen cannot build in the same place. Soffit and attic vent nests can enter the building, so interior checks are part of the visit.
Ground and cavity cases
If the insects turn out to be yellowjackets, the case moves to yellowjacket and wasp removal. Identification can change the page you need.
Leave-alone advice
Some nests, such as a small old one in a distant tree, are not worth treating. The technician says so, and you are not charged for work that is not needed.
King County
Why hornet nest removal is different in Puget Sound
Large aerial nests often show up in late summer and early fall around the lakeshore suburbs and wooded greenbelts of King County. Shade trees, cedar fences and deep eaves on larger homes give a queen quiet places to start. The longer the dry summer runs, the bigger the colony by the time anyone notices.
The wet autumn that follows is when nests become visible: leaves fall and a nest that was hidden all summer hangs bare in a tree. Do not climb to inspect it. A photograph from the ground, with something for scale, is enough for the first call.
Across Puget Sound in Kitsap County, wooded lots and older cabins have many eaves and outbuildings. Tell the person on the phone where the nest is and whether the property has outbuildings or boats, because nests also form in boathouses and under decks.
Need hornet nest removal today?
Call any hour and explain what is going on. You get a clear price before any work starts.
Where we work
Hornet Nest Removal across King County
- Hornet Nests in Seattle
- Hornet Nests in Medina
- Hornet Nests in Mercer Island
- Hornet Nests in Bellevue
- Hornet Nests in Kirkland
- Hornet Nests in Kenmore
- Hornet Nests in Renton
- Hornet Nests in Redmond
- Hornet Nests in Mountlake Terrace
- Hornet Nests in Sammamish
- Hornet Nests in Bothell
- Hornet Nests in Edmonds
- Hornet Nests in Woodinville
- Hornet Nests in Shoreline
- Hornet Nests in Lake Forest Park
- Hornet Nests in Burien
- Hornet Nests in SeaTac
- Hornet Nests in Tukwila
- Hornet Nests in Des Moines
- Hornet Nests in Lynnwood
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Related
Related services
Yellowjacket and Wasp Removal
Late-summer nests in the ground, walls and eaves are removed by a technician, after the wasp is identified.
General Pest Control
One visit to name the pest and find the way in, planned around Puget Sound's wet season and its spring ant swarms.
Squirrel and Raccoon Exclusion
Attic, soffit and chimney entry points found and sealed so squirrels and raccoons cannot get in, with a plan for animals already inside.
Guides
Read before you book
Yellowjackets and Wasps in the Seattle Area: Why Late Summer Is the Risky Window
Yellowjacket colonies start from one spring queen and peak near the end of summer; WSU says August to September is when they are most troublesome, and German yellowjacket colonies are largest from October to early November.
FAQ
Hornet Nest Removal FAQs
Is a hornet nest more dangerous than a wasp nest?
It depends on the species and where the nest is. We do not rank species by danger. A nest near people is a risk whatever the insect, and identification decides the method.
Can you remove it at night?
Technicians often work when wasps are less active, but timing depends on the site and who is free. A same-day visit is offered only when a technician is free.
What if the nest is on a neighbor's property?
Talk to the neighbor first. A technician can only work where the owner gives permission, and some nests need access from both sides.
Do you remove bees?
The visit identifies the insect first. If it is a bee colony, the technician will advise on options rather than treat it as a wasp.
Should I wait until winter?
If the nest is far from people, waiting is an option because the colony dies in the cold. If it is near a door, a path or a play area, do not wait.
Will insurance cover it?
That is for your insurer to say. We cannot predict coverage, and no outcome is promised.