This is a type of Yellowjacket wasp; several species occur in Maryland, and we can't tell from the photos which one it is (that shouldn't matter in this case, though). Some Yellowjackets nest in the ground, in a shallow burrow (one that a rodent created and left behind; they don't dig it out themselves), while others nest above-ground.

They only tend to sting if they perceive a threat to the nest, or if individual wasps are swatted or pressed/trapped by the skin (or caught in fur), though Yellowjackets have a reputation of being more defensive as we enter late summer and autumn. This is when nests are reaching peak population, and there are more young to feed, so they seek a wider array of food sources, like human foods that are sugary or protein-based, and they seem to be less tolerant of disturbance near a nest. Sometimes certain scents might also alarm them, if they happen to be chemically similar to the wasp's alarm pheromone. For example, the alarm pheromone for some bees smells like artificial banana flavoring to us.

Miri

You're welcome.