Late Summer Yellowjacket Menace Hitting Hard In Marin and Sonoma Counties

"The yellowjacket population is surging in both the East Bay and North Bay this summer, and since the bugs are very aggressive and can sting multiple times, county authorities have their hands full cleaning out an unusually large number of nests. Folks who attend the Outside Lands music festival may recall that in 2024, there was something of a wasp infestation, with the insects swarming food stands and generally giving festivalgoers a serious hassle."

"Yellowjackets nest in the ground, so people (and pets) generally do not realize when they are encroaching on these nests, and unleashing angry swarms. And these yellowjackets are very aggressive, capable of stinging multiple times. Plus if you get stung by one of the wasps, the scent of that sting will just make more yellowjackets identify you as an enemy and then simply sting you more."

"And much like last year, a relatively mild winter has led to something of a population boom this year for yellowjackets. This year so far we've had about 5,400 [calls] from the public to control in-ground yellowjacket nests, Marin/Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control District spokesperson Nizza Sequeira told KRON4. (Yes, there is a Marin/Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control District.)"

Yellowjacket populations have surged across the East Bay and North Bay this summer, producing unusually large numbers of nests and aggressive swarms. Contra Costa, Marin and Sonoma counties have fielded far higher complaint volumes and thousands of service calls to remove in-ground nests. A relatively mild winter helped fuel a population boom that echoes a 2024 wasp infestation at the Outside Lands festival. Yellowjackets nest underground, so people and pets can unknowingly disturb nests and trigger swarming attacks. The wasps can sting repeatedly and mark victims with a scent that attracts more attackers, making encounters especially dangerous for residents and responders.

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