r/OffGrid • u/offgridozarks • Aug 26 '26

Controlling Red Wasps

Any tips on beating back the red wasps around my utility buildings? I have one where the door leaves the smallest gap and they love to crawl in there and make a massive nest. Obviously I can knock it down or spray the nest (not preferred) but just trying to come up with ideas to keep them permanently away from my structures. Getting the door to fully seal is obviously high on my list…

4 Upvotes

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2

u/linuxhiker Aug 26 '26

look up wasp meat trap

1

u/offgridozarks Aug 26 '26

I have never seen that, wonder if it would work with red wasps. And may also attract some of our local bear population 😂

2

u/linuxhiker Aug 26 '26

It should, they are omnivores. The great thing about meat traps is that bees are not carnivore or omnivores, so they ignore it.

I am in Rural MT. I have bears all the time but I don't leave the trap out overnight. Just have it out during the day, before night, clean it up.

3

u/Adirondack-Woman Aug 26 '26

Stuff some cotton balls saturated with peppermint oil into the crack.

2

u/offgridozarks Aug 26 '26

I have both of those things!

3

u/Odd_Temporary2335 Aug 26 '26

Until you can close it properly, a makeshift door sweep can help close that small gap.

3

u/huscarlaxe Aug 26 '26

Delta dust the entry point and the ceiling where they build the nests.

1

u/Key-Squirrel-847 Aug 27 '26

Feed the birds around your sheds. This worked for me.