yellow jackets in mailbox

[Therese's Mommy]

We have yellow jackets trying to nest in our mailbox again this year. Last year we just kept knocking the nest down until they gave up. I was wondering if there was an eo that I could put a few drops of in the mailbox that would shoo them away. If not an eo, maybe something else I have around the house, vinegar?

Thanks,

Beth

[grahamsmom98]

Well, it's not particularly "natural", but spraying the inside "ceiling" of the mailbox with silicone lubricant works for us!

They can't attach their nests to the surface when it has been sprayed with the silicone. You could try another type of oil, but most tend to drip (oily mail is a no-no!) and go rancid (oily, smelly mail is a bigger no-no!).

I have friends that use a moth ball in their mailbox to keep pest away. But, those things are so toxic I wouldn't think about using them.

Is your mailbox open or does it have a hinged door on the front? If it is an open-type, you might want to replace it with one that has a door. Your mailman will thank you!