Spring means beautiful flowers and plenty of time outside. Springtime also brings out the bees, but if you or someone in your family has an allergy, keeping these pests out is vital. Here is a pest control guide for handling bees in your yard and ways to keep everyone safe.

How to Stay Safe From Bees This Year

Safety Tips for Bees

Bee stings can be life-threatening for those allergic to the venom from their sting. Some people develop hives and itching while others have serious anaphylaxis that leads to swelling in the throat or tongue. When the reaction is this severe, breathing is difficult and some sufferers may have a devastating drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness. For some, the reaction is fatal.

The best way to remain secure is to safeguard vulnerable family members. Avoid fragrances and scented lotions; bees are attracted to sweet-smelling scents. This also extends to foods and drinks such as soda and juice, which also emit a saccharine odor. Keep all food containers closed tightly. Finally, stay away from bright colors and floral patterns, which bees are immediately drawn to, and always wear shoes and a hat.

If a bee does approach, don’t flail and swat. This will only aggravate them. Stay perfectly still and blow gently on the pest. Do not let anyone with an allergy approach or play near a nest and have epinephrine pens nearby just in case. Have pest control experts inspect your property thoroughly at the beginning of the season.

What to Do If There’s a Nest

Different bee varieties build their nests in different ways. Yellow jackets tend to build their thin nests underground or in walls and cracks in buildings. These aggressive varieties also like woodpiles. Wasps behave similarly, with nests commonly found under eaves or in woodpiles while hornets prefer a high ground, like trees or on the gables. Honey and bumble bees are not usually aggressive unless they feel threatened and live in honeycomb colonies in hollow trees or holes in buildings.

The best way to ensure safety is to call for pest control. Exterminators will inspect your property thoroughly and will effectively remove nests or hotspots where bees will thrive. They can also help with preventive measures to keep your property safe all season.

With two locations, BUG-A-PEST, LLC is the pest control company to call this spring to handle your bee issue. Locally owned and operated since 1992, these fully insured and certified, BBB® accredited members of the Ohio Pest Management Association can help with everything from prevention to extermination, ensuring your property has the right pest removal to suit your needs. When you need an exterminator, call (513) 459-7700 for Mason, OH’s leading pest control service. Visit them online for their bug library to see what you may have on your property.