Wasp Nest and Bee Removal in Bakersfield

The first step is knowing which insect you have, because the answer changes completely from one of the three below to the next. A clear photo from a safe distance is usually enough to tell.

Which one do you have

Paper wasps

Paper wasps build open, umbrella-shaped nests under eaves and patio covers. They also build in attics and under branches. UC IPM says the nests "rarely exceed the size of an outstretched hand" and hold about 15 to 200 wasps, and that paper wasps "are much less defensive and rarely sting humans." A nest away from doors and walkways usually does not need treatment at all. One over the front door or the kids' swing set is a different story.

Yellowjackets

Yellowjackets are the ones to take seriously. UC IPM says ground-nesting species like the western yellowjacket "tend to defend their nests vigorously when disturbed." They often nest in old rodent burrows, and sometimes in wall and ceiling voids of houses. Colonies can reach 1,500 to 15,000 wasps, depending on the species. They get more defensive as the season goes on and colonies grow while food gets scarcer, and in fall they scavenge at picnics, trash cans and pet food bowls.

Honey bees

With honey bees, you will see them either as a swarm, a temporary cluster hanging on a branch or fence, or as an established colony living in a wall, roof or tree. Those are two very different problems, covered below.

When not to do it yourself

I would not take on any of these myself:

• A yellowjacket nest in the ground, in a block wall or inside the house. UC IPM says removing cavity nests "isn't practical," and that wasps "will attack if they sense a poison being applied to their nests."
• Any nest if someone in the house is allergic to stings. UC IPM notes stings can cause life-threatening allergic reactions, and multiple stings can damage the kidneys.
• A nest you would have to reach from a ladder. A sting while you are on a ladder can cause a fall.
• Any honey bee colony. A swarm counts too.

UC IPM's advice for yellowjackets is that "hiring a pest control professional will reduce risks to you and your family." It also suggests your local vector control district, but the Kern Mosquito and Vector Control District's posted services cover mosquitoes and roof rats, not wasps, so in Bakersfield a licensed pest control company is the realistic option.

If you do treat a small, reachable paper wasp nest yourself, UC IPM says to wear full protective clothing and use a product labeled for wasp nests that shoots a long stream into the nest. Wasps are most likely to be in the nest at night, but UC IPM warns that stings are still likely after dark. Keep kids and pets inside while you work, and follow the label.

Wasp traps

Lure traps baited with heptyl butyrate catch mainly western yellowjackets. UC IPM says they can cut down foraging around a patio but do not eliminate large populations. Put them around the edge of the yard, between where you sit and where the wasps are coming from, since yellowjackets forage up to about 1/4 mile. Homemade water traps with a protein bait are most useful against queens in late winter and early spring.

Honey bees: beekeeper first, and know about Africanized bees

Africanized honey bees are in this part of California. UC Riverside's Center for Invasive Species Research reports that by 2008 they had colonized all Southern California counties and the southern Central Valley, and a 2015 UC San Diego study found Africanized genetic traits as far north as the Delta. UC IPM says Africanized colonies, and swarms that have run out of food, can be more defensive than the mild European bees most people picture. Treat every unknown bee colony with caution.

A swarm

UC IPM says swarm clusters are temporary and generally do not need to be managed. Within a few hours to a few days the scouts pick a new home and the swarm leaves. If it needs to be moved sooner, UC IPM says to call a beekeeper. UC IPM says county agricultural commissioners can provide names of experienced beekeepers, and searching "bee removal" or "beekeeper" also works. Keep people and pets away from it in the meantime.

A colony in a wall or roof

This is harder, and doing it wrong causes damage. Per UC IPM:

• A mature colony can hold up to 100 pounds of honey.
• If the colony is killed and not removed right away, "honey will ferment and leak through walls and ceilings," and dead bees and brood cause strong odors.
• Pesticides used to kill bees inside structures are restricted to licensed pest control operators, and contaminated honey, wax and dead bees must be handled as hazardous waste.
• After removal, every hole a pencil or larger that leads into a cavity must be sealed so a new swarm cannot move in.

Beekeepers who do live removal may charge for a colony in a structure, and UC IPM notes pest control companies generally kill the bees before removing them. Either way, ask anyone you hire whether they will remove the comb and honey, not just the bees, and who will close up the wall. A beekeeper may open the wall to get the comb out and leave the patching to a contractor.

If bees are coming into the living space or a swarm has settled inside the house, keep everyone out of that room and call now.

What wasp nest removal costs

This Old House (updated June 5, 2026) puts national professional wasp extermination at $100 to $1,300, with an average of $375. Those are national figures, not a local quote. For a single nest, a one-time visit is enough; I would not sign up for a recurring plan because of one wasp nest. Our cost guide and one-time vs quarterly page go into the trade-offs. Spiders and general pest control are often handled on the same visit.

We only refer companies licensed by the California Structural Pest Control Board, and you can verify a license before anyone starts. For a nest you do not want to tackle, ask for a free inspection and a quote before any treatment.