Wasps, bees & flying insects
Wasp and hornet nest removal in Salt Lake City, UT
A paper nest over the back door, a gray football-sized hornet nest in the maple, wasps disappearing into a gap in the siding. Each one is handled differently, and the right way depends on where the nest sits.
Most active
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
- Winter
Quick answer
Wasp and hornet nest removal in Salt Lake City starts with the nest type. Paper wasps build open, umbrella-shaped nests under eaves and railings. Bald-faced hornets hang gray paper nests in trees and sheds. Nests inside wall voids show up only as wasps flying into a gap. We treat and remove each safely, seal void entries after the colony is dead and tell you how to keep them from rebuilding.
At a glance
- Best for
- Nests near doors, decks, play sets and in walls or trees
- Peak season
- Late summer, when nests are largest
- Response
- Call any hour; nests by entries get priority
- Follow-up
- Wall-void nests may need a return check
Warning signs
When a nest needs a professional
Sign 01
Nest by a door or walkway
Anyone passing within a few feet of the nest is likely to be stung once it's disturbed.
Sign 02
Wasps flying into a wall gap
A nest in a wall void can be much larger than it looks and can chew through into living space.
Sign 03
A gray nest in a tree or shed
Bald-faced hornet nests can hold hundreds of workers that defend aggressively.
Sign 04
Allergies in the house
Anyone with a known sting allergy should not be near a nest removal.
Sign 05
Nest growing week to week
Nests keep growing through late summer, so early removal is easier and safer.
Overview
Three kinds of nests, three approaches
Paper wasps build open, single-comb nests you can see the cells of, usually under eaves, deck railings, porch lights and window frames. They're the most common nest on Salt Lake homes, and small ones are quick to treat and remove.
Bald-faced hornets build enclosed gray paper nests, often the size of a football or bigger, hanging from tree branches, shrubs, sheds or eaves. The colony can be large and defensive, so these are treated with the nest entrance sealed off first and removed once the colony is dead.
Nests inside walls, soffits and attics are the hardest. All you see is wasps flying into a gap. Sealing that gap too early traps them inside, where they can chew through drywall into the house. We treat the void through the entrance, wait for the colony to die, then seal it.
How the visit goes
How a nest removal goes
Identify the nest
Paper wasp, hornet or wall-void nest, and how big it is.
Clear the area
Kids, pets and neighbors kept away, and windows near the nest closed.
Treat the nest
A fast-acting dust or spray into the nest or entrance, often at dusk when the colony is home.
Remove or seal
Open and hanging nests are taken down; void entrances are sealed once activity stops.
Prevent rebuilds
Advice on the sheltered spots wasps favor and an early-season treatment if they come back every year.
What it covers
Nest work we do
Paper wasp nests under eaves
Open, umbrella-shaped nests under eaves, railings, porch lights and play sets.
Bald-faced hornet nests in trees and sheds
Enclosed gray nests in branches, shrubs and outbuildings, treated before removal.
Nests in wall voids
Treatment through the entrance, then sealing once the colony is dead so nothing chews inside.
Early season prevention
Spring treatment of the eaves and railings where queens start new nests each year.
Salt Lake conditions
Utah's nest season
In Utah, bald-faced hornets hang gray paper nests in tree branches, yellowjackets usually build in shallow underground chambers, and Polistes paper wasps are found statewide. USU Extension recommends fruit-juice baited traps for European paper wasps in mid to late summer, and heptyl butyrate lures for yellowjackets, because the two respond to different baits. Traps help thin foraging wasps around a patio, but they don't remove a nest that's already established by a door.
Most nest calls in Salt Lake come from late July through September, when colonies are at their largest.
Sources: wildaboututah.org, extension.usu.edu
Timing
What to expect after treatment
- Minutes to hoursActivity at an open nest drops quickly after treatment.
- Next dayA few returning foragers may circle the old spot; they die off.
- Two to three daysWall-void colonies are usually dead, and the entrance can be sealed.
- Next springAn early treatment of favorite nesting spots cuts down on rebuilds.
Your options
Removal options by nest type
| Nest | Where it is | How we handle it |
|---|---|---|
| Paper wasp nest | Eaves, railings, porch lights | Treat and knock down the same visit |
| Bald-faced hornet nest | Trees, shrubs, sheds | Treat at dusk, remove once the colony is dead |
| Wall-void nest | Inside siding, soffits or attics | Treat through the entrance, seal after activity stops |
| Nest high on a gable | Two-story walls and peaks | Extension tools or ladder work, then removal |
Do it yourself?
What to do, and what to avoid
What you can do today
- Keep people and pets away from the nest area until it's treated.
- Close windows and doors near the nest.
- Hang baited traps away from the patio in late summer to thin foragers.
- Note where wasps are entering walls so we can go straight to it.
What to leave alone
- Spraying a large nest with a hose or aerosol from close range.
- Sealing a wall gap while wasps are still using it.
- Knocking down a hornet nest with a stick.
- Attempting removal on a ladder, where a sting can cause a fall.
Before we arrive
Before we arrive
- Keep everyone away from the nest.
- Point out every nest you've seen, even small ones.
- Close windows near the nest.
- Put pets inside.
- Unlock gates to the side of the house with the nest.
- Tell us about anyone with a sting allergy.
- Leave the nest alone, including hosing or spraying it.
- Turn on outdoor lights if we're coming at dusk.
Dusts, residual sprays and mosquito traps from product lines like these, chosen for the nest and the spot.
- Tempo
- Demand CS
- Suspend PolyZone
- Alpine WSG
- In2Care
- Gentrol
Cost
What nest removal costs
Priced by the nest, its location and how many there are.
Published range
A general exterminator visit typically runs about $100 to $260. Source: angi.com, checked September 2026.
Nest location
Eye-level nests are quicker than wall voids, gables or treetops.
Nest size
Large hornet nests and mature colonies take more care.
Number of nests
Several nests around the house add time but are usually handled in one visit.
Timing
Evening and after-hours calls can cost more than a weekday booking.
Sealing and follow-up
Wall-void nests may need a return to seal the entrance.
Late summer is nest season
Colonies peak from late July into September. Nests near doors and play areas are the ones to call about first.
Call (801) 516-0135Paper wasps build under eaves and railings every summer.
FAQ
Wasp & hornet nest removal questions from Salt Lake homeowners
Still unsure? (801) 516-0135 is answered around the clock.
A small paper wasp nest early in the season can be manageable, but anything near a door, overhead or inside a wall is safer handled by a professional.
Most of the colony is home in the evening and activity is slower, so treatment reaches more of the wasps.
Around Salt Lake, paper wasps build open-comb nests under eaves, while bald-faced hornets build enclosed gray nests in trees and sheds and tend to defend more aggressively.
Queens often pick the same sheltered spots each spring. An early-season treatment of those spots helps.
Not until the colony is dead. Sealing too early can push them into the house.
Often, especially nests by doors, decks and play areas. Call any hour and we'll give you a time.
Seek medical help right away if there's swelling beyond the sting, trouble breathing or dizziness. Then call us about the nest.
Related services
More from wasps, bees & flying insects
From the Pest Library: Wasp, hornet and yellowjacket nests: Utah's late-summer season
Talk to us
A nest by the door?
Call now. A real person answers any hour and tells you what to do while we get there.
Homes, rentals and businesses across Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Box Elder, Morgan, Tooele and Utah counties.
