While raking leaves in the front yard, I noticed a hole about the size of a basketball under the split-rail fence. Closer inspection told me it was a huge yellow jacket nest that had been devoured by a varmint, probably either a raccoon or a skunk. The larvae sacks were strewn about around the hole.I have seen yellow jacket ground nests in the woods, and have even had the misfortune to rile up a nest and get multiple stings, but I've never had one this close to the house.
Yellow jacket nests mature in the fall, and that's when the skunks and raccoons go after them. More power to the varmints. I don't mind them stealing our bird seed if they keep the yellow jackets away.
I'm with you, more power to the varmint that took out this nest. I don't like yellow jackets, bees I love but no to the yellow jackets.
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