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Hornet nest removal
Montreal, Laval and the South Shore
That big grey paper ball hanging in a tree, a hedge or under the eaves belongs to a colony of social wasps, such as the black-and-white bald-faced hornet. By late summer it's full of workers ready to defend it. Leave it alone and don't trim anything around it.
Around here, people often call a big wasp a hornet. Yet according to Quebec's agriculture ministry (MAPAQ), the only true hornet found in the province is the European hornet, and only in certain specific regions. The big black-and-white insect, for its part, is often the bald-faced hornet: despite the name, it isn't a true hornet but the largest of Quebec's native social wasps, according to Montreal's Insectarium. Its close relatives also build nests out in the open, in branches and under soffits.
These nests are often hidden in the leaves. People come across them while trimming a cedar hedge, pruning a tree or cleaning a gutter, and late summer, when wasps are most numerous, is the riskiest time. Stings mostly happen when someone disturbs the colony at close range. This is one of the jobs covered by our wasp and flying insect service; a nest hidden behind the siding is handled on the wasp nest in a wall or soffit page.
Hornet, bald-faced hornet or paper wasp?
Bald-faced hornet
Black and white, with pale markings on the face and abdomen, and clearly bigger than a yellowjacket. It builds a closed grey paper nest with a single opening near the bottom.
European hornet
Quebec's only true hornet, an introduced species found only in certain regions. Bigger still, with a brownish head and thorax, it nests in a cavity: a hollow tree, a wall, an attic, an old farm building.
Paper wasps
Brown with long legs. Their small open nest, shaped like an umbrella, shows its cells and hangs from a short stalk under a porch railing or a window ledge.
Giant and Asian hornets
According to MAPAQ, the only place in Canada where the northern giant hornet has been detected is British Columbia, and the yellow-legged hornet is not present in Quebec. If you think you've seen one, the ministry answers questions from the public about hornets.
Signs of an aerial nest near your home
You'll often notice the wasps before the nest; if they're coming up from the lawn instead, see ground wasp nest removal.
- A grey paper ball, smooth or layered, anywhere from fist-sized to basketball-sized, in the branches or under a ledge
- Black-and-white wasps shuttling back and forth to the same tree or section of hedge
- A single opening at the bottom of the nest, where the wasps come and go
- Wasps scraping the weathered wood of a fence or deck: they're collecting fibre for their paper nest
- A big nest that shows up in the fall once the leaves drop: it was there all summer
How we remove a hornet nest
The nest often hangs over a walkway or a door, so we plan the work around that.
Assessment
We identify the insect, check the height and access, and look at what's underneath: a door, a deck, a play area, a sidewalk. We also check whether the nest is on your property or in a city tree.
Treatment
Wearing protective clothing, the technician treats the nest with a registered product late in the day, once the workers are back inside. Nobody walks underneath while this is going on.
Taking the nest down
Once activity has stopped, we take the nest down when its position allows, then check whether any wasps are still circling the spot where it hung: branch, ledge or beam.
What comes next
We tell you when you can get back to trimming or pruning, and which spots to watch next spring, when new queens pick their nesting sites.
Before you trim, prune or climb a ladder
- In August and September, watch the hedge and trees from a distance for a few minutes before starting the hedge trimmer: traffic at one spot means stop.
- Schedule major hedge trimming and pruning early in the season, while a colony still has few workers.
- In spring, a new nest is just a small paper ball the queen builds on her own, under a ledge, on a porch ceiling or in a shed: at that stage it's fairly easy to eliminate, so call as soon as you spot one.
- If the nest is in a city tree along the sidewalk, don't prune the tree yourself: in Montreal that's prohibited, and the problem is reported to 311.
- Never throw anything at the nest or try to knock it down with a stick or a broom.
- Before leaning a ladder against a wall or a tree, look under the ledges and in the branches above you.
Service 24/7, free quoteWhere these nests hang
Residential
- Cedar hedges and dense shrubs
- Branches over an entrance or a deck
- Eaves, soffits and cornices
- Sheds, gazebos and pergolas
- Play structures and swing sets
- Porch and balcony ceilings
Commercial and industrial
- Trees and hedges on commercial lots
- Entrance canopies and awnings
- Daycare and school yards
- Apartment buildings with balconies
- Industrial buildings and loading docks
Frequently asked questions
Can't find what you're looking for? A technician answers 24/7.
Call 514-231-1615Are hornets more dangerous than wasps?
What's often called a hornet here, the bald-faced hornet, is a social wasp that defends its nest vigorously, like its relatives. The danger comes mainly from the number of stings when the colony is disturbed, and from allergic reactions. If someone has a severe reaction after a sting, such as a swollen face or trouble breathing, call 911.
I found a big grey nest in my tree in November. Is it dangerous?
Usually not. In our climate the colony dies off in the fall; only the young queens survive, and they generally spend the winter elsewhere. Health Canada says a nest left in place until November or December can then be removed with little risk. Either way, it won't be reused.
The nest is in the city tree in front of my house. Who takes care of it?
In Montreal, trees along the sidewalk are the City's responsibility, even when they seem to be on your lot, and pruning them is prohibited. Report the nest to 311 and an inspection will determine what can be done. On private property the City doesn't intervene and it's up to the owner to call a pest control company; outside Montreal, check with your municipality.
How much does hornet nest removal cost?
The price varies with the height of the nest, access (ladder, branches, roof), what's underneath and the size of the colony. Quotes are free and follow an assessment of the situation.
