Found something today we didn't want!!!

[Toadie]

My son Zack and I are recovering from todays hunt. We were in the back yard of the house digging a signal that showed up as a dollar on the target id and next thing we knew we were covered with Eastern Yellow Jackets. I told him to run and he did and managed to get away with only three stings. Myself, I was not so lucky. We counted 24 stings and man do they hurt.

Just a reminder to watch around you before you dig. We were about five feet from their hole in the ground. I took the bug zapper and placed over the hole about 9:30 pm. They started swarming it by what looked like thousands and figured I would leave it there a few days. These were appearantly getting ready to go into hibernation according to my father in law, who is an exterminator. He said it would be best to just leave them alone cause there could be up to 14,000 in the colony, but, I'm not about to move that bug zapper and have them swarm me!!

We didn't see any flying around until they got us so ya'll be careful. I know I mowed over that same spot at least three times this last month and never saw them.

Here are a couple of pics of what I am talking about.

[creekrat]

anytime you run into those little devils,mark the hole and come back at dark and pour a pint of gas in the hole and leave it and you kill ever one of them..dont lite the gas .........creekrat

[RingDancer]

Glad you two are ok! Hope I never find a find like that either!!!

Pat

[Wyatt Earp]

When I was young, I stuck my arm under the seat of an old junk car...and got relly lit up with those yellow jackets. Burned like fire.

I was looking for old coins....the cars at this place ranged from the 30s to the 50s. I got some nice coins out of the cars' interiors.....but I'll never forget the yellow jackets either.

Just glad you're not allergic like my daughter-in-law. 3 stings could kill her.

Wyatt

[Tom in SWW]

Reminds me of a bottle dig I did back in the mid '70's... The dump was basically from the '20's, but I found a section that was much older.
Wasn't watching around where I was digging, and the next thing I know, I felt like someone shot me in the side. Then I started feeling pain all over and figured it out.
I ran like heck, jumped on my bike, and got the heck out of Dodge as fast as I could.
Unfortunately, I lost my glasses while I was running, and also left my loot and tools behind, so I had to return and get everything.
THAT was doubly scary! All the stuff including my glasses were found and retrieved, then I saw the hole with all the yellow jackets flying in and out.
The little monsters chased me the two miles back to the house!
Don't really care to repeat that....
Glad you and your son got away with as few stings as you did.
It was a selfless act for you to look after your son's well being and get him away first. Two thumbs up for you!
Did you ever find out what the item in the ground was?

HH! -Tom

[JohnWPA]

Thank God both of you are OK.....definitely have to be careful!! I'm guilty of not looking to see what's around you before digging....very important!!

John

[sue,uk]

they are nasty creatures, we have them too though they are called wasps, do you call them yellow jackets by name or as a nickname? what i mean is do you know them as wasps? glad Zack didnt get stung too much, and sad you got as many as you did. either he can run faster or perhaps you were the bigger target.
sue.

[Tom in SWW]

Originally Posted by sue,uk

do you call them yellow jackets by name or as a nickname? what i mean is do you know them as wasps? sue.

Hi Sue!

Yellowjackets are different than wasps: The latter tend to be longer, while yellowjackets are slightly shorter, usually running about an inch long.
The yellowjackets also have yellow bands, hence the name.
They tend to live in holes in the ground, and will make nests in protected openings such as holes in walls.

HH! -Tom

[Oz_IL]

Originally Posted by adjutant1351

My son Zack and I are recovering from todays hunt. We were in the back yard of the house digging a signal that showed up as a dollar on the target id and next thing we knew we were covered with Eastern Yellow Jackets. I told him to run and he did and managed to get away with only three stings. Myself, I was not so lucky. We counted 24 stings and man do they hurt.

At least us northern folks have them critters all die off (except for the queen) come winter And yep I've been stung by a few myself. Leaving a twig soaked in molasses by a full grown praying mantis will help feed it when the yellow's come to feast on the sweet treat

[Mr.Silver]

Originally Posted by adjutant1351

My son Zack and I are recovering from todays hunt. We were in the back yard of the house digging a signal that showed up as a dollar on the target id and next thing we knew we were covered with Eastern Yellow Jackets. I told him to run and he did and managed to get away with only three stings. Myself, I was not so lucky. We counted 24 stings and man do they hurt.

Just a reminder to watch around you before you dig. We were about five feet from their hole in the ground. I took the bug zapper and placed over the hole about 9:30 pm. They started swarming it by what looked like thousands and figured I would leave it there a few days. These were appearantly getting ready to go into hibernation according to my father in law, who is an exterminator. He said it would be best to just leave them alone cause there could be up to 14,000 in the colony, but, I'm not about to move that bug zapper and have them swarm me!!

We didn't see any flying around until they got us so ya'll be careful. I know I mowed over that same spot at least three times this last month and never saw them.

Here are a couple of pics of what I am talking about.

I was digging a old home in the northern part of our county I was 10" down I did not relized what was going on until one bit me on the temple lucking I was wearing headphones and was little bumbees and I filled the hole in I did not have time to retirive the object., maybe when the bulldozed the house down. I anm highly allegic to bees(thats why I carry my eppin pen with me,you'll never whats around the corner).

Mr.Silver