If you are like most bird lovers out there, you want to provide your feathered friends with a safe and cosy home. But one problem that can arise when setting up birdhouses is wasps making their way into the nesting site. Unfortunately, other paper wasps and other insects love birdhouses too.
Before we get started, let’s discuss exactly how wasps build nests in birdhouses. Wasps usually make their way into the birdhouse through a small opening, such as an access hole or even a knot in the wood. Once inside, they gather materials like mud and grass to build their nest.
How do wasps build nests in birdhouses?
Wasps like birdhouses too and they get inside through small openings like access holes or knots in the wood. Inside, they use mud and grass to build their nests. Install smaller entrances. If possible, reduce the size of your entrance holes to 1-1/8 inch or less – this will help keep out larger wasps. Additionally, consider installing metal guards around openings to further deter insects from entering. Place birdhouses away from areas frequented by wasps. Keep your birdhouse away from sources of food that attract wasps like garbage bins and fruit trees
Thankfully, there are a few steps you can take to keep wasps out of birdhouses:
1. Location of birdhouse
Place the birdhouse in an area that doesn’t attract wasps. Wasps like to build nests and hang out near sources of food, such as garbage cans and sugary foods or drinks. If possible, try to place the birdhouse away from these sources.
2. Install a guard
Install a guard around the entrance of the birdhouse. Wasps are less likely to enter a nesting site if there’s an obstacle blocking the way. You can find various guards—from mesh wire to stainless steel pipes—that fit over the openings of birdhouses and help keep wasps out.
3. Fake wasp nest
Hang up a fake wasp nest near your real birdhouse. This is a popular trick used by many wildlife enthusiasts, as wasps tend to stay away from places that already have nests built in them.
4. No open containers
Make sure you’re not inadvertently attracting wasps to your yard or garden with open containers of sugary drinks. If you’re having a backyard barbecue, make sure to keep all sugary drinks and foods covered.
5. Use soap
Nobody is fully sure about why, but wasps don’t like the smell of soap. You can try sprinkling a bit of soap powder in your birdhouse and around the entrance to help ward off wasps. Dissolve a few drops of dish soap into a spray bottle filled with water and spray it around the area where your birdhouse is located. The scent of the soap will help to repel wasps. If a birdhouse is empty you can stick a soap bar inside. By following these tips and tricks, you can help protect your feathered friends from wasps and other pests this spring and summer.
6. Pass on other materials
If the entrance is too wide, you can use mesh wire or stainless steel pipes to cover them up and block the entrance.
7. Get professional assistance
If wasps are a persistent problem in your birdhouses, you may need to call in a professional pest control service. A licensed pest control technician will be able to assess the situation and identify the best way to protect your birds from wasp activity.
8. Observe the offseason
Take the time to inspect your birdhouses at least twice a year, once in the offseason and then again before the nesting season begins. This will help you identify any potential problem areas or pest activity before it becomes an issue.
9. Keep other food sources away
If you live in an area populated by wasps, keep all sugary and sweet food sources away from your birdhouses. Make sure you are covering all open drinks, such as sodas and juices, and properly disposing of any sweet waste. Keeping these food sources from wasps will help deter them from entering your birdhouse.
Follow these steps to ensure your birdhouse is safe for nesting birds and free of wasps. Contact a professional service in your area if you have any questions or need help with a pest control problem. Professional pest control services can help you identify the source of the problem and provide effective solutions to keep your feathered friends safe.
Additionally, it’s essential to take proper care of birdhouses when they are not in use. Clean birdhouses regularly, discarding any debris or dead birds that may have accumulated inside the house. This will help keep wasps from nesting in them and give your feathered friends a safe place to roost during the summer months.
By following these tips and tricks, you can help protect your feathered friends from wasps and other pests this spring and summer. With a bit of effort, you can ensure that your birdhouse is safe from wasp activity and make sure your birds have the chance to roost in peace!
Good luck and happy bird watching!