Remove food attractants (trash, fruit, pet food)

What to Do

Keep outdoor trash cans tightly sealed with spring-loaded or locking lids. Pick up fallen fruit from trees promptly. Bring pet food bowls inside after feeding. Clean up sugary drink spills at outdoor dining areas immediately.

Why It Works

Yellow jackets and other social wasps are scavengers that feed on protein and sugar. Open food sources attract foraging workers to your yard, increasing sting encounters. Removing attractants makes your property less appealing than your neighbor's.

Tips

• Wasp traps baited with meat (spring) or sugar water (late summer) can reduce foragers around patios
• Hummingbird feeders also attract wasps — use feeders with bee guards
• Late summer is peak foraging season when colonies are largest and natural food sources decline