Approval, procedure, and more

the essentials in brief

• Hornet nests may not be removed without permission.
• To a Hornet's Nest To be allowed to remove, there must be a valid reason, e.g. B. an allergy to insect bites.
• Hornet nests are not removed and destroyed but relocated.
• You can try that Hornets to move voluntarily to move, but without actively bothering them.

Remove hornet's nest - not without permission

Hornets nests are quickly discovered in many cases, after all, the animals prefer to build them at lofty heights. The only question is: how do you get rid of the nest? Anyone who has small children who play a lot in the garden, or who are allergic to wasp and hornet poison, quickly gets scared at such a sight. What if you get stung all the time? Before you panic now though Garden hose or grab construction foam and in this - incidentally very risky way - kill the animals and thus also the nest, you should be aware of this fact: The independent one Removing and killing hornets - and incidentally also wasps, bees and other insects - is strictly forbidden according to the Federal Nature Conservation Act and can result in fines of up to EUR 50,000 be occupied. So, first of all, you need to leave the nest where it is.

Get approval

Removal of the hornet's nest is only possible in exceptional cases, but only by qualified specialists and with official approval. You can obtain this approval on an informal written application to the district administration office responsible for your region. the lower nature conservation authority at the city administration. In this letter, on the Internet, you will find various forms that you only need to print out, fill in and hand in, the following information must be given:

• Insect species: What kind of insect should be removed? In addition to hornets, wasps, and bees also build Bumblebees Nests and can sting.
• Location of the nest: Where exactly is the nest on your property? Is it possibly on or even in the house?
• Reason: Provide a valid justification for the removal. “Fear” is not a sufficient reason for a permit, but an insect bite allergy is.
• Date and company: Give a possible date for the removal as well as those of you ins eye compiled company (e.g. B. a pest controller or a specially trained beekeeper).

You should also, if available, a copy of your allergy passport - after that you will be provided with the reason "Insect venom allergy" asked anyway - and possibly a medical certificate (s) that have already been issued Hornet stings also submit. Photos that show the size and location of the hornet's nest are also helpful. But be careful: You are not entitled to have your application approved!

Remove and relocate hornet's nest

As soon as the official approval is available, commission a specialist for the planned removal of the hornet's nest. This can be the local fire brigade (they also have other things to do and not always time!), But also a beekeeper or a pest control company. As a rule, the nest is not destroyed and the animals are killed; instead, they are relocated to a location at least four kilometers away. Do not undertake the removal or the relocation on your own, it is better to leave it to the professionals in their protective suits! These appear in full protection, as the hornets will of course not endure this intervention without resistance. As a rule, the animals and their nest are caught and removed using a special suction device.

Who pays for the relocation of the hornet's nest?

You bear the costs of relocating the hornet's nest yourself. You have to reckon with around 150 to 250 EUR, depending on the provider and region. This practically covers the expenses of the expert, whereas if you are on a fire brigade you often only pay a fee for the coffee cup. However, the men and women from the fire brigade - especially when it comes to a volunteer team - have everything Quite a lot to do, especially during the summer months, so a hornet's nest is not exactly on the list of priorities stands.

Digression

Can't you get hornets to move yourself?

Remove hornet's nest in winter

In any case, the hornet's nest only lasts for a few months, because the colony dies completely in autumn. Only the young queens hibernate - mostly near the old nest, perhaps in a rotten piece Wood or in a hole in the ground - while the workers and the drones disappeared by October at the latest are. As soon as there is no Hornets are more in the nest, you can carefully remove it without permission - it will no longer be used anyway. Protective measures are of course no longer necessary in this case. As soon as you have completely cleared away the nest, take a close look at the place and close any entry holes. In this way, the hornet queens cannot build another nest for the next year.

Prevent the construction of a hornet's nest

Because hornets like to stay where they are: although old nests are not reused, new ones are happy to be built near them. So if you already had a hornet's nest in your garden or on your house this year, you should use the winter months for repair and clean-up work. If the young queens do not find optimal conditions on site in spring, they fly on and look for another spot.

Life cycle of hornets

Construction begins in late spring

From around the beginning to the middle of April, but also earlier or later depending on the weather, the young queens wake up from the Hibernation. During this time they are often still weak and easy to find. They often crawl around the garden. First, the animals look for food to regain their strength. But they also look out for a new nesting site very quickly. So keep your eyes open in spring and watch hornets flying around in the garden: the up A queen who is three centimeters long and conspicuously colored repeatedly visits a certain object, so she becomes there with the nest building kick off. Now is the time to step in.

Hornets particularly like to nest here

The animals like to build their nests on trees, but also make do with structures rich in wood such as garden sheds, attics, barns and sheds or cladding of walls and roofs. Cavities, such as those found under canopies, in roller shutter boxes or in bird nest boxes, are also used. Hornet nests have a brownish color and a structure reminiscent of paper. They are open at the bottom, because this is where the animals deposit their excrement - and with around half a kilogram of insects eaten per day, there is quite a bit of excrement! Place a bucket under the nest here to avoid damage.

Hornets feel particularly at home in birdhouses

How to prevent nest building

Hornets need rotten wood to build their nests, which they chew, salivate and finally stick to each other. This is how the paper-like structure is created. The first thing to do is to clear away rotten wood during the winter months. Cavities in cladding, canopies, etc. must be carefully searched for and sealed so that the queen does not find a suitable place for her nest. If you see them flying around in a certain area more often, check this and close any entry holes there. You can also make such places unattractive for the animals by perfuming them with clove oil. Hornets don't like this scent at all and try to keep their distance as much as possible.

Offer alternatives

Now hornets are under nature protection for a reason: Persistent control measures have resulted in them being protected the animals were shortly before extinction and are still very rare in many regions today to be found. So you can ensure the continued existence of the species - and at the same time do something good for yourself, because the predatory hornets catch many other unpopular insects such as such as wasps and mosquitoes, at the same time they serve as tasty food for numerous songbirds - and a hornet nesting box in a safe place in the garden attach. For example, choose a quiet spot next to an old tree that you or others don't spend too often near. Rotten wood that the animals can use to build their nests can also be left lying around here.

Digression

If you are liable for damage such as B. Puncture injuries to others, such as assuming a hornet's nest on your own property?

Correct handling of hornets and their nest

If you keep enough distance, you shouldn't have a problem with hornets - even if they live under the same roof

In any case, the risk of a hornet sting is very low, because they are peaceful animals. Hornets are more likely to flee and only sting when they feel attacked or when their escape route is cut off. Nothing can happen to you as long as you follow these rules:

• Maintain a distance of at least two meters from the hornet's nest.
• It is best to stretch a barrier tape around the area or set up a barrier.
• Move as infrequently as possible near the nest.
• Do not manipulate the nest!
• Under no circumstances spray it with spray, water or an insect repellent!
• Don't even try to smoke out the hornets!
• The hornets see this as an attack.
• Do not make frantic movements around a hornet.
• Do not wave your hands and / or arms to chase the animals away.
• Don't blow on the hornets either!
• No lawn mowing within five meters of the nest!
• Attach insect screens to windows and doors so that no hornet can get lost in the house.

frequently asked Questions

Are hornets dangerous?

No. Contrary to their devastating reputation, hornets are not aggressive towards humans if left alone.

I don't care whether I can get rid of the beasts or not: I want to get rid of them. Will construction foam or water help?

Quite apart from the fact that you are violating the law and making yourself liable to prosecution, it is also extremely dangerous: Try to use means such as smoke, Killing water or construction foam in the nest will never get you all at the same time - and the remainder is likely to be quite angry and then in turn difficult for you do. Such stressed animals remain aggressive and then actually pose a threat - what they wouldn't be if you just left them alone. In addition, you can expect to be stung quite often when you implement your project.

How likely is it to be prosecuted for illegal nest removal?

It is often said that where there is no plaintiff, there is no judge. In fact, you don't have to be caught and punished, but you can. An unpopular neighbor who is not on good terms with you anyway - or who simply has a heart for animals, is enough. Many municipalities also send their employees on patrols, who are supposed to look for suspicious activities and for this purpose are happy to ask around in the neighborhood. Whether you will actually be fined EUR 50,000, however, is less likely - just how much you really have to pay depends on the gravity of your offense and the regulations in your community away.