Alberta drought spurs wasp influx; here’s how to get rid of them

WATCH ABOVE: If you spent any time outside this summer you may have noticed the increase in wasps, it seems the warm summer is helping them to grow their numbers. Global’s Doug Vaessen reports.

CALGARY  – A drought in Alberta has caused problems for farmers and ranchers alike, but the hot, dry weather is also increasing the number of wasps.

“I’ve definitely noticed an increase in the wasps,” said jogger Greg Rideout. “Out in Chestermere, especially, and in Calgary it’s been crazy. My brother has these containers he uses to catch them, and I swear there was like 50 or 60 of them on the weekend.”

READ MORE: Two more Alberta counties declare states of agricultural disaster

The one-in-eight-year super El Nino weather event means conditions are ripe for the pesky bug.

“For the last eight months, every one of those has been warmer than normal. Wasps like warm conditions because it creates more pests, more insects for them to feed on,” said Environment Canada spokesperson David Phillips.

READ MORE: El Niño to make fall and winter warmer and drier, predicts Environment Canada expert

When wasps can’t find an insect to eat, they find people—which is why pest control companies have been “extremely” busy.

“August is the really busy time; we do four or five homes a day,” said Joel Kearley from Abell Pest Control, who said he hasn’t been bitten after two years on the job.

Though they don’t have many defenders, wasps have some environmental benefits, since they can pollinate and many of the insects they eat are often harmful to plants.

The City of Calgary said it tries not to use pesticides, but because wasps are so ornery and can sting repeatedly in groups, they’ll control them around areas where children could be in danger.

Below are some tips from the City of Calgary on how to remove the bugs.

How to make a homemade wasp trap:

• Pour about two inches of fruit juice into a trap container and add a small piece of raw meat (hamburger or fish).
• The odour that’s created as the juice ferments and the meat spoils attracts wasps, and when they go into the bottle, they’ll fall into the juice and drown.
• The trap is most effective if drowned wasps are removed regularly and ingredients are replaced.

Here are some general dos and don’ts when removing wasp nests:

• Wear layers of protective clothing that cover the entire body.
• Wait until dusk or dark since wasps are more docile and slower to react at cooler temperatures.
• Do not attempt to destroy a wasp nest by burning or flooding, as wasps respond with aggression.
• Do not use gasoline to control ground-nesting.

For more specific instructions on different types of wasp nest removal, and tips on how to prevent wasps in Calgary, visit the city’s wasp page on the website here.