GILLETTE - They're so bad that not only are they ruining outside activities, but they're also preventing some people from getting their mail.

Because of yellowjacket attacks that have left two Gillette mail carriers hospitalized, the post office has stopped delivery in the past month to at least two homes in Gillette, said Joan Harrieter, U.S. Postal Service consumer affairs manager in Denver.

McCann Heights resident Pam Brown stopped receiving her mail for a week in August because of a yellowjacket nest by her mailbox. Brown had the yellowjacket nest removed, and her mail delivery has since resumed. But another undisclosed resident's house is still not receiving mail because of a 2-foot-long yellowjacket nest by the mailbox.

"Until they can fix the problem, our carriers' safety is our primary concern," said Harrieter, who wouldn't identify those carriers who were hurt.

The yellowjacket population in Gillette has boomed this year because of the extra number of queen yellowjackets that survived last year to start new colonies. The growth in vegetation because of all the rain this spring also contributed, said Scott Schell, assistant extension entomologist at the University of Wyoming. With more vegetation, there's more for insects to feast on.

Yellowjackets hunt for protein. With all the food available, the yellowjackets have thrived.

"They are now a nuisance because the yellowjacket is at its peak right now," Schell said.

But who in Gillette can fix the swarms of yellowjackets?

According to city and county officials, it's up to you.

The Campbell County Weed and Pest Department does not spray yellowjackets, as the insects are not declared economically damaging by the Wyoming Weed and Pest Council. The Campbell County Cooperative Extension Office workers will not kill yellowjackets, although they will help identify the type of yellowjacket and offer recommendations on how to get rid of the pests.

The best thing to do - and arguably the hardest - is to find the yellowjacket nest and destroy it, said Lori Bates, Campbell County Extension Office employee. Otherwise, there's a greater chance they'll move on.

The good news is that time is running out for the pests.

"Usually, a lot of them go away for the winter," Bates said. "In a couple weeks, it shouldn't be a problem. The first frost will shoo them away."

Getting rid of yellowjackets

Here are suggestions from Lori Bates of the Campbell County Cooperative Extension Office and entomologist Scott Schell on how to kill yellowjackets:

* Aerosol sprays to kill wasps nests are effective, but watch out: The yellowjackets can get more aggressive and sting. A fast-action spray is recommended.

* It is best to wait late in the evening or morning to remove nests. The temperature is cooler then, and yellowjackets are less active and less likely to sting.

* Wasp traps are effective, depending on the time of the year. They don't make a difference now when yellowjacket population is at its peak. Put them out early in the spring to kill the queens so you don't get the big bursts in population later.

* Throw away the nest in a trash bag and give it a good stomp, although you might want to wear boots.

* People also can contact a local pest control agency to spray yellowjackets.

Here are suggestions from Lori Bates of the Campbell County Cooperative Extension Office and entomologist Scott Schell on how to kill yellowjackets:

* Aerosol sprays to kill wasps nests are effective, but watch out: The yellowjackets can get more aggressive and sting. A fast-action spray is recommended.

* It is best to wait late in the evening or morning to remove nests. The temperature is cooler then, and yellowjackets are less active and less likely to sting.

* Wasp traps are effective, depending on the time of the year. They don't make a difference now when yellowjacket population is at its peak. Put them out early in the spring to kill the queens so you don't get the big bursts in population later.

* Throw away the nest in a trash bag and give it a good stomp, although you might want to wear boots.

* People also can contact a local pest control agency to spray yellowjackets.]]->