The short version
Around Spokane, queens start nests in May, and colonies peak in late summer. Small, low paper wasp nests can be handled at dusk. Leave wall, ground and high nests to a pro.
- Treat nests at dusk, when wasps are home.
- Never seal a hole wasps are using.
- Ground and wall nests are best left to a pro.
- Knock down small nests early in spring.
- Call 911 for breathing trouble after a sting.
Anyone in Spokane dealing with wasps, hornets or yellowjackets at home.
What to look for
Late-summer colonies are big and quick to sting. Wasps defend the area around their nest. Near a door or deck, stings will happen.
- 1Open umbrella-shaped comb under a porch ceiling or railing.
- 2Buzzing audible through a ceiling or wall on warm afternoons.
- 3Steady wasp traffic in and out of one soffit gap.
- 4Pets pawing at their face after sniffing a lawn spot.
- 5Wasps hovering at a mulch bed or retaining wall gap.
- 6Wasps disappearing into a hole in the lawn or a wall.
Why it’s worth acting soon
- Nests grow all summer.
- Ground nests get disturbed by mowing.
- Wall nests can chew through into rooms.
- Stings are dangerous for anyone allergic.
Treatment options and typical costs
Inspection and Nest Identification
$75–$200
The inspection also flags anyone in the Spokane household with a sting allergy, which changes how and when the work gets done. Ask for photos of what was found.
- Time
- 45–75 minutes
- Best for
- Every job; species and nest location decide the method
Sealing Up After the Nest Is Dead
$150–$450
Once the nest is dead, the gap gets sealed. Caulk, copper mesh or a soffit patch works. Old nests are not reused, but the gap invites new queens.
- Time
- 1–2 hours
- Best for
- Closing soffits, vents and gaps once a void nest is dead
Preventive Spring Treatment and Follow-Up
$150–$400
Follow-up matters after any treatment around a property. A second look two weeks later catches missed nests.
- Time
- 45–90 minutes
- Best for
- Repeat nests, or someone allergic to stings
Aerial Nest Treatment and Removal
$100–$400
A treated nest should go quiet within a day. A few stragglers are normal. Ask whether removal and a follow-up check are included.
- Time
- 30–90 minutes
- Best for
- Exposed paper wasp, hornet and bald-faced hornet nests
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
Yellowjackets often nest in old rodent holes and gaps in garden walls. Watch for wasps flying low and steady into one spot.Which wasps live around Spokane.
Mud daubers build tube-shaped mud nests. They rarely sting. Paper wasps are the most common around Spokane. They build open, umbrella-shaped combs under eaves and railings. Western yellowjackets nest in the ground and in wall voids. They cause most stings. Bald-faced hornets build big gray nests in trees and eaves.
Local wasps conditions in Spokane.
Knowing Spokane's seasonal timing lets you schedule treatment before the busy stretch rather than after it, which usually means faster service and a more accurate quote. A provider who works Spokane and Washington every day can point out the specific conditions that matter most here, and getting the scope, price, and follow-up terms in writing makes it easier to compare options. Spokane sits in a warm summer continental climate, and that sets the pace for wasp activity here: mid-summer through fall (July-October). In Spokane, the area is mostly urban, so wasps pressure can differ from one block to the next depending on how tight the entry points are and how much food, water, or shelter is close by. An inspection in Spokane usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first.
An unscreened foundation vent is an easy way in for a yellowjacket queen. Wasps flying in and out of a vent all day are a sign of a nest inside.When they’re most active.
Nests die back after the first hard freeze in fall. Early spring is the easiest time to remove small starts.
Where they nest around houses here.
A ground nest looks like wasps streaming from one hole. Homes from Spokane out to Spokane Valley share the same favorite nest spots. Many houses around Spokane have crawl spaces, and vents and access doors invite nests. Check eaves, porch ceilings and the crawl vents. Watch for traffic in and out of gaps.
A year of wasps in Spokane.
- Summer: highs near 84°F in Spokane help colonies grow fast. - Late summer: peak season. Workers hunt sweets near people. - Winter: lows near 23°F in Spokane. Nests die; only queens survive. - Spring: queens start new nests around May. Knock down small starts.
Wasp, hornet or bee?
- Yellowjacket: bright yellow and black, nests in the ground. - Hornet: larger, with a big closed paper nest. - Mud dauber: thin waist, mud tube nests. Rarely stings. - Honey bee: fuzzy and golden. about relocation. - Paper wasp: slim, long legs, open comb.
If you get stung.
Move away from the nest first. Wash the sting and use a cold pack. An antihistamine can ease itching and swelling. 911 for trouble breathing or a swollen face or throat. If someone carries an epinephrine pen, use it.
Keeping wasps away from the patio.
- Trash: keep lids tight and bins away from doors. - Fruit: pick up fallen fruit. - Spring checks: knock down small nests early. - Gaps: seal gaps after a nest is gone. - Food: cover plates and drinks outdoors.
Ground nests: what to do.
Mark the hole with a flag. Keep kids and pets away. Don't mow over it. Don't pour gasoline or water in. Pros treat ground nests at night, when the colony is home.
A nest, or just visitors?
Watch at dusk, when they fly home. Follow the line back to an eave, vent, shrub or hole. Wasps on flowers or trash cans may come from far away. A nest shows steady traffic to one spot.
Treating a small nest yourself, safely.
- Never if anyone in the house is allergic. - Wait until dusk, when wasps are home and slow. - Wear long sleeves, pants and gloves. - Use a jet wasp spray from several feet away. - Never spray from a ladder. - Leave it overnight, then bag the nest. - Only if it’s small, low and out in the open.
Wasps and pets.
your vet if the throat swells or breathing changes. Keep pet food and water bowls indoors in late summer. Dogs often snap at wasps and get stung on the face. Most stings just swell a little.
Kids and wasps.
Check play sets, slides and playhouses for nests each spring. Use cups with lids for sweet drinks outside. Teach kids to walk away calmly. Swatting makes a sting more likely.
After the nest is gone.
Check nearby eaves for new starts. Knock down small new nests early next spring. Wasps don't reuse old nests. Seal the gap a wall nest used once it's quiet.
Wasps at picnics and barbecues.
- Food: keep it covered until you eat. - Trash: bag scraps and close the bin. - Calm: don’t swat; slowly move away. - Kids: teach them to walk away calmly. - Drinks: use cups with lids or straws.
Ground nests in the lawn.
Mark it, and keep mowers and kids away until it's treated. Yellowjackets often nest in old rodent holes. Watch for wasps flying in and out of the grass.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- How will you treat a nest inside the wall? - Is removal of the dead nest included? - Is a return visit included? - What kind of wasp is it?
What affects the price
- Number of nests found on the property.
- Roof pitch and safe access to the nest location.
- Nest height and whether a ladder or lift is needed.
- Return visit to confirm a void nest is dead.
- Distance from the company's base and travel time.
- Local labor rates and seasonal demand.
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What's your biggest concern about wasps?
When to call for help
Don't seal a hole wasps are using. They'll find another way in. Call for nests in walls, attics, the ground, or anywhere high. right away if anyone in the house is allergic.
What you can do yourself
Big, high or hidden nests are a job for a pro. Knock it down the next day. Spray it at dusk with a wasp aerosol. A small, reachable paper wasp nest is a fair DIY job.
Wasps in Spokane
Winter lows near 23°F in Spokane end the season; only new queens survive, tucked into sheltered spots. In denser parts of Spokane, nests turn up in eaves, balconies, signs and wall gaps. Spokane only gets about 17 inches of rain a year, so local wasps often gather at pools, fountains and dripping taps.
Local research
Wasps in Spokane, WA: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which wasps actually live in Washington, when they are busiest around Spokane, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Northern giant hornet nests eradicated in Washington (USDA APHIS)
The hornet is declared eradicated; report any suspected sighting to WSDA.
USDA APHISShare of confirmed northern giant hornet detections that came from public reports
Public reporting remains the backbone of WSDA's hornet surveillance.
USDA APHISWasp species recorded in Washington
- Western yellowjacket (Vespula pensylvanica) — UC IPM: 'the most commonly encountered species and is sometimes called the "meat bee"' in California and the Western states; ground and wall-void nester and aggressive scavenger…
- German yellowjacket (Vespula germanica) — UC IPM: 'becoming more common in many urban areas of California, where it frequently nests in houses.' Named among Ohio's three main species (German, Eastern, Common yellowjacke…
- Bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) — Penn State: 'found in most of the 48 contiguous states and D.C., throughout Canada and in Alaska'; actually an aerial yellowjacket that builds the football-shaped gray paper nes…
- European paper wasp (Polistes dominula) — Penn State: 'first reported in 1978 around Boston', now 'coast to coast ... although they are apparently less common in the Southeast and Great Plains'; nests in 'eaves of struc…
When wasps are busiest around Spokane
Western yellowjacket queens start nests each spring, colonies grow through summer and scavenge aggressively in fall before dying off; only fertilized queens overwinter (USU).
APHIS: the northern giant hornet 'first captured national attention in late 2019 when it was detected near Blaine, Washington' and 'has been eradicated from Washington State and the United States'. WSDA maintains hornet identification and sighting-report pages.
Rules that apply in Washington
For context, nationally
- 788 — Deaths from hornet, wasp, and bee stings, 2011–2021 (US). CDC MMWR
- 72 deaths per year — Average annual sting deaths, 2011–2021 (US). CDC MMWR
Sources: USDA APHIS; CDC MMWR; Yellowjackets and Other Social Wasps (Pest Notes); Baldfaced Hornet; European Paper Wasp. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources
Simple ways to keep wasps away
- Screen attic, gable and dryer vents with fine mesh.
- Trim shrubs so nests cannot hide near walkways.
- Note where nests appeared and inspect there early next year.
- Cover drinks outdoors and use lidded cups for kids.
- Caulk around cable, gas and conduit entry points.
- Move hummingbird feeders away from doors and patios.
For a nest in the ground or a wall, a pro treats the entrance and checks back to make sure the traffic has stopped before anything is sealed.Did you know?
Yellowjacket nests are never reused a second year
Only newly mated queens survive the winter
Questions people ask
What time of day should a wasp nest be treated?
At dusk or after dark, when they're home and calm.
Are wasps good for anything?
They eat caterpillars and other pests. Leave nests that are well away from people. Yes.
How do I know if I have wasps, hornets or yellowjackets?
Yellowjackets nest in the ground or walls. Hornets build big, gray, closed nests. Paper wasps build open, umbrella-shaped combs.
Can I just leave the nest alone until winter?
If it's out of the way, often yes. Around Spokane, nests die back after the first hard freeze in fall.
What should I do if I get stung?
An antihistamine helps with itching. 911 for trouble breathing or a swelling throat.
How common are wasp sightings?
In Spokane, very common in late summer, when colonies peak and wasps go looking for sweet food.
When is wasp season in Spokane?
Around Spokane, queens start nests in May, and colonies peak in late summer. Nests die back after the first hard freeze in fall.
Are hornets common in Spokane?
Bald-faced hornets are, in trees and on eaves. Most stings come from yellowjackets, though.
Nearby cities
Related guides
Sources (9)
The facts in this article come from the public sources listed above. Every home is different, so ask the company you talk to about pricing and what’s included. Published by Wasp Exterminator · Updated September 11, 2026 · How we write these guides