Actually, I hate to use the word "bees" when speaking of hornets,wasps, yellow jackets. To me, bees are the obvious good guys -- the worker bees, the fat little honey bees, the orchard mason bees that are diminishing in numbers and creating real challenges for modern agriculture. This blog is about the "bad guy" bees.
In Whatcom County and Bellingham we have a great number of yellow jackets or hornets.
We also have mud-dauber wasps, that frequent attics, but they are not overly aggressive and help reduce the populations of other blood-sucking insects.
How do bees get in the attic. The obvious applies: Roof vents that have holes in the screens. But, in my experience, more often than not, the birds and the bees enter through rusted out screens at the "bird block" soffit vents (photo below). Birds, and bats can get in too, create a mess in the attic, but that is a mild problem compared to an attic full of hornets.
The problem above is caused by age and time. The screens deteriorated. There are other times when the problem is the result of sloppy workmanship by a builder. This photo below is a good example of a builder doing a poor job or taking shortcuts.
Look at that gap below the two holes. In bee colloquial language, a bee could drive a mack truck through that wide gap. The screens were fine, but you might just as well take them out. This condition existed all around the perimeter of the home.
Did you know that once yellow jackets get into the attic, they might not be content to stay there? I have talked to several people who had them chew through a sheet rock wall and suddenly swarm into the house. We all hate uninvited party guests! Yesterday I was inspecting a property where that kind of invasion had occurred. The photo below is actual size and was in the ceiling. Got bees? Not anymore, they are all in the living room!
Bottom line: Bee careful. If you are a home owner, a realtor, an appraiser or an inspector, take precautions before entering an attic, or even a crawl space. Walk around the house and look for obvious bird or bee entry points, prior to opening the hatch. Remember, if birds can get in, bees can get in 100 times easier. When you enter the attic or crawl space, stop, look and listen. If all seems to be okay, then proceed but make sure you know how to get out quickly, in an emergency! Don't get turned around.
If you have never seen or heard hornets or yellow jackets, nor experienced the feeling of being in close confines with them, this video does a nice job of conveying that creepy crawly feeling.
Please bee careful, the life you save might be your own!
Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA Home Inspections
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