Underground yellow jacket nest - Ask Extension
Will an underground yellow jacket nest die off if I leave it alone? I live in Montrose, Colorado.
Knowledgebase
Underground yellow jacket nest #947569
Asked October 23, 2026, 12:53 PM EDT
Will an underground yellow jacket nest die off if I leave it alone? I live in Montrose, Colorado.
Montrose County Colorado
Expert Response
Hello,
That is correct, yellow jackets do not overwinter. Next year's wasps will not attempt to inhabit the same nest. Yellow jackets cannot survive freezing temperatures. But their underground nest provides some thermal insulation, so they may survive a few more light freezes. Yellow jackets also become increasingly active as winter approaches. Yellow jacket traps can be effective, but only if they're applied in early spring to catch queens emerging from dormancy.
Let me know if you have further questions.
