The Hornet Whisperers
Ryan, who recently got his bachelor’s in geology from U.C. Santa Barbara, said he and his two older brothers have been taking on more of the pollen work, which has increased.
Hornets, meanwhile, are dropping off.
“We’ve seen a decrease in hornet nest calls in recent years,” said Jim.
In years past, they might get as many in a day as they got this whole trip, and stay for more days. Maybe it was because there were a lot more poisons available now, Ryan said.
“Or maybe it’s climate change,” Jim added. “It’s definitely less foggy than it was 30, 40 years ago.”
Or maybe fewer people were seeing their ad. “So many of the people who call us now are the older generation,” Jim said. “They’re the only ones reading the newspaper.”
But at least older customers are reliable. Often on fixed incomes, they can’t afford to hire an expensive exterminator — one local exterminator, for instance, charges $125 to remove a visible yellowjacket hive. If it’s hidden, or hard to get to, the price goes up.
The Weiderts do it for free. True, they make money off the hornets, from the pharmaceutical lab. But most people don’t seem to mind that.
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Recent on the cover
May 17
Ring of Fire
Sun and moon will perform a rare pas de deux in Humboldt skies on Sunday
May 10
District Soup
Racing for the top county seat in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd districts
May 3
A Place in the Woods
As park closure deadline nears, a scramble to save what we can
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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SIX Comments
Comment / By buzzerluvrr / July 9, 2010, 5:37 p.m.
uh… 3rd generation hornet nest destroyers and they are mystified why there seem to be so many less of them??? Not hard for me to figure out. Routinely destroying the nests impacts future numbers.
Comment / By cameron / July 18, 2010, 8:08 p.m.
I have a bee’s nest on our rental on Watson in Eureka
Comment / By Aleen / July 18, 2010, 8:10 p.m.
We have a hornet’s nest are you intrested?
Comment / By Tim Clohessy / July 30, 2010, 10:15 a.m.
Hornets next, easy access in my front yard hanging from a rhody at head height.
Comment / By Pam / Aug. 26, 2010, 11:29 a.m.
Easily accessible wasp nest found yesterday in Arcata backyard . Can you please help us out w/removal. \
Comment / By Carol Sabo / Today, 6:51 a.m.
Discovered basketball size hornet’s nest in a tree, within reach, on our parking strip - Mount Vernon, WA. Any interest?