Wasp or Yellow Jacket Hives in New House

 
i just bought a house that has a bunch of yellow jacket or wasp
nests arrayed around under the eaves of the roof.

also, in the garage.  actually, when i did a second or third
inspection on the garage & noticed the hives, it was sort
of like that moment in the movie Aliens when they notice
they're in an Alien hive.  LOTS of hives.  they didn't seem
to mind me, and i thought the best policy was to not disturb
them, for the time being.

the house is at 45 degrees Longitude (latitude ?), in Oregon.
during the winter there's usually a few weeks when the temperatures
get to -20 degrees F.

i was thinking this would be the best time to remove the
hives.  actually, i can't understand how something that is
made partially of water can survive in temperatures like that,
but maybe wasps have some natural anti-freeze in their blood
and don't die in temperatures like that.

in any case, even if they were still alive, i thought that when
that first major cold spell hits is the best time to remove
the hives.

==>  Question #1
is this accurate ?

i also thought that they probably try to go somewhere slightly
warmer, like the attic.  so i was thinking, sealing off the attic
is a good idea.

also, if i do have to deal with wasp or yellow jacket hives in
the attic, i was thinking turning off the heat and letting it
get below freezing (32 F) up there, if i can do it without
causing the pipes to burst (when the water in them freezes),
would be a good approach.  reasoning that cold wasps or
less likely to attack someone removing their nest.

anyway, if any entomologists or homeowners that have dealt
with wasp & yellow-jacket infestations have any suggestions
on how to remove the bugs, i'd be interested to hear your
own wasp removal stories.

i would rather not use poisons at all.

also, if i can do it myself, without paying an exterminator,
i don't mind spending the time.

thanks much for any info.

 
Bad idea according to
http://www.terminix.com/information/pestlibrary/index.cfm?fuseaction=category&pestCategory=stinging&pestIDf



One thing to know, the pros being licensed get access to the really
good chemicals.  :-)

My gut as a homeowner (and a fairly green friendly one at that) is
that unless you're willing to wait until winter to remove the hazard
to you and your family,  you may have to give in a big on your
aversion to either poisons or professional assistance with the job.

Might be worth having a pest control service for at least a year to
take care of the issue.  After that, maintainance is relatively easy.

Best Regards,
--
Todd H.  
http://www.toddh.net/

 
RogerB wrote:

Just wait until winter then and physically remove them.

 

Aw, c'mon, they're wasps.  Nuke em!

 
GWB wrote:

You could.  But strong nuclear point sources are dangerous, difficult
to handle, registered,k and sold only to terrorists.

I leave them alone outside the house.  Inside is my territory.

Carburetor cleaner works well.  But it's a poison too, I guess.
Spray paint them!!!