Are Yellowjackets a Danger to Kids and Pets? What Andover Families Should Know

It starts with a scream.
Your child was playing outside near the garden.
Your dog was nosing around the shed.
Then — crying, barking, panic. 

If you’re a parent or pet owner in Andover or nearby towns ,this is the kind of summer scare you want to avoid at all costs. 

And it often starts with something most people don’t even see:
A hidden yellowjacket nest. 

🛑 Why Yellowjackets Are a Serious Risk for Families 

Unlike bees, yellowjackets are not peaceful pollinators. They’re territorial, fast, and aggressive — especially from July through September, when their colonies reach peak size. 

What makes them especially dangerous for kids and pets? 

• They sting multiple times without dying

• They swarm quickly if the nest is disturbed

• Their nests are often in low-to-the-ground spots — exactly where kids and pets play

• Children and animals are more likely to react severely to venom
   

We’ve responded to homes in Andover, North Andover, Boston and North of Boston, and nearby neighboorhoods where backyard playtime turned into emergency room visits — all because of one unnoticed nest. 

🎯 Where Yellowjackets Tend to Nest in Family Yards 

Yellowjackets love spots that seem safe and hidden, but for families, these are high-traffic zones: 

• Under playsets, trampolines, and decks

• Around garden beds or mulch piles

• Inside wall voids or sheds

• In-ground holes (especially in older lawns)

• If your kids or pets play freely in the yard, a nest could be just a few feet away without you knowing. 

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 How to Keep Your Family Safe This Summer 

Here’s what we recommend to every family in the Andover area: 

• Inspect your yard weekly — especially corners, shaded areas, and under structures

• Keep children and pets away from spots where yellowjackets are flying low or in and out of the same place

• Don’t let kids or pets investigate buzzing sounds or “holes in the ground”

• If you suspect a nest, do not spray or disturb it

✅ Call the Pros Before It Escalates 

At Andover Pest Control, we treat every yellowjacket case involving kids or pets as urgent. Our service is: 

• Fast — often same-day

• Family- and pet-safe

• Designed to treat and prevent nests from returning
   

Call Andover Pest Control ASAP to inspect, remove, and protect your property — before someone you love gets hurt.