08/05/2026
It’s that time of the year again hikers, yellowjacket season! Yellowjackets are social wasps with a nasty sting. In the U.S., there are two primary families of yellowjackets, Vespula and Dolichovespula. Dolichovespula species such as Aerial Yellowjackets and Bald-faced Hornets build large, exposed nests. These nests are often in trees or human-made structures. Vespula species such as the Eastern Yellowjacket build nests underground.
Each nests begins with a single queen finding a location during spring. For Vespula species, this is typically under logs, in thick leaf litter, or in natural holes in the soil. As the summer goes on, colonies grow larger and larger. By the end of summer, a single colony can have between 4,000-5,000 yellowjackets! Most nests only last a single season, becoming abandoned over winter.
Unfortunately for us, yellowjackets are highly territorial. During late summer and fall, even the slightest vibrations can cause yellowjackets to become instantly aggressive, swarming anything nearby. Unlike some bees, yellowjackets can sting you multiple times. This creates a potentially dangerous situation, especially to those who are allergic to their venom or are stung many times. Between 50-80 people die each year from wasp and yellowjacket stings. Be vigilant when hiking this time of year to avoid a painful experience!
