Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in Leicester Forest East? Here's What to Do
With young children and pets around, a loft nest needs a few firm household rules, applied calmly, until a technician has dealt with the colony.
Why children and pets need a plan
Adults can be told to leave a nest alone and generally do. Children are curious, and pets are guided by smell and sound. A toddler might point at the ceiling and say there is a buzzing, a cat might sit under the hatch, a dog might snap at a wasp that has dropped onto the carpet. None of them knows that stings in numbers can be serious.
A nest in the loft puts the colony close to the places where families spend time. In Leicester Forest East, as in any community, the practical answer is the same: reduce contact, explain the rules and arrange treatment.
The aim is not to frighten anyone but to give everyone a clear, simple routine that lasts until the technician has visited.
Think about the rhythm of your household. Where do the children play, where does the dog sleep, which room has the hatch above it? A few minutes of looking at the house from the nest's point of view often shows which rooms to close off first.
Rules for children
Keep the language simple and the rules few. Children cope better with a short list than with a lecture.
- We do not go on the landing near the loft hatch.
- We do not poke, bang or throw things at the ceiling.
- If a wasp comes near, we stay still, then walk calmly away and tell a grown-up.
- We do not wave our arms about or run.
- Drinks and snacks stay in the kitchen or at the table.
Check sticky fingers and cups of juice, as wasps are attracted to sugar. Older children can be told what the plan is, and given a role such as keeping a door closed. Young children need supervision, and the room nearest the nest is best avoided for play for now.
A simple picture on the fridge can help younger children remember: a closed door and a wasp with a line through it. It sounds small, but visual reminders work better than repeated reminders.
Rules for pets
Cats, dogs, rabbits and indoor birds all need keeping away from the area. Dogs in particular may try to catch a wasp, which is a good way to get stung on the mouth or face.
- Keep pets out of the room below the nest and away from the landing.
- Do not leave food or water bowls on the floor near affected rooms.
- Pick up pet food bowls promptly after meals.
- Watch for pets pawing or sniffing at the ceiling, hatch or light fittings.
- Keep a lead on the dog in the garden if wasps are active near the roofline.
If your pet is stung and you see swelling of the face or trouble breathing, contact a vet straight away. We treat wasps, not animals, so for any health concern a vet is the right person to ask.
If someone is stung
For a person, move away from the wasps and wash the area with soap and water. Remove the sting if you can see it, and apply a cold pack for comfort. Watch them for a while afterwards.
Call 999 if there is swelling of the face, lips or throat, a wheeze or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash. Anyone with a known allergy should speak to their GP.
If anyone in the home is allergic, tell us when you book so we can take it into account. It is also useful to say how many children and pets live in the house, so that the technician knows what to expect on arrival.
Keep a first-aid kit somewhere obvious and make sure at least one adult knows where the cold packs are. In a house with children, a calm, practised response to a sting makes it less frightening for everyone.
Pushchairs, play areas and the garden
Do not forget the outdoor side of the house. Wasps leaving the roof fly out over gardens and drives, and a regular flight path can pass over a patio, a paddling pool or a washing line.
- Move toys, paddling pools and garden furniture away from the wall below the entrance.
- Do not leave pushchairs or prams beside the house wall under the roofline.
- Keep sweet drinks and ice lollies indoors or covered.
- Bring washing in promptly, since damp fabric attracts the odd wasp.
These adjustments last only until the nest is dealt with, so they are not a long-term burden. Once the colony is gone, the garden can go back to normal, though a quick check of the area for stragglers is wise.
It is also worth telling any babysitter, grandparent or neighbour who looks after the children what the rules are while the nest is still there.
Booking the treatment
The treatment is a fixed £95 per nest, confirmed on the phone before the technician visits, and an additional nest on the same property is £35 extra. No call-out charge applies, and the technician does nothing until you have said yes. The technician is trained, the work is fully insured, and same-day service is offered.
On the day, arrange for children and pets to be somewhere else or in a closed room away from the landing. After the visit, give the house a day or so to settle, and vacuum any dead wasps yourself, out of reach of little hands and noses. Put the bag straight in the outdoor bin.
We are open seven days a week and work for homes and businesses. Phone 0116 214 9259 or use the online booking form on the contact page.
If you have a small animal such as a rabbit or a guinea pig in an outdoor hutch, move it away from the wall beneath the entrance while wasps are flying.
Wasps on your property in Leicester Forest East?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.