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How to Keep Yellow Jackets Away from Your Picnic (And What They’re After)
- Pete Rizzo
- Sep 8, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 26
The Uninvited Guest at Your Picnic: What Do Yellow Jackets Really Want?
You have the perfect setting for a picnic, and a spread of delicious sandwiches and fruit salad. But wait, who's that buzzing around your watermelon slices and soda cans?
First one yellow jacket, then two… before you know it, there’s a full-blown invasion over your sandwiches and soda cans.
Sound familiar?
Yellow jackets are infamous for showing up uninvited, especially when food is involved. But why are they so persistent and what do they really want?
Let’s unpack their motives, their favorite foods, and how to protect your picnic without a sting in sight.
What Attracts Yellow Jackets to Your Picnic?
Yellow jackets don’t stumble onto your food by accident. They’re skilled foragers with specific cravings, and your picnic offers a buffet of everything they need to survive.
Sugary Foods & Drinks
These wasps have a powerful sweet tooth, especially in late summer and early fall when their natural nectar sources start to dry up. Their top sugar targets include:
Fruit – Watermelon, grapes, peaches, apples
Juices and Sodas – Especially if spilled or left open
Cookies, Candy & Frosted Treats – Anything with a sugary glaze
Sugar gives them fast energy, helping fuel their endless flights and colony duties.
Protein-Packed Snacks
Yellow jackets are omnivores, and they love meat as much as they love sugar, especially in spring and early summer when their young need protein to grow.
They’re drawn to:
Chicken, hot dogs, burgers
Fish, ham, cheese, deli meat
Discarded scraps and bones
They’re not shy either. If your sandwich is left unattended for even a few seconds, expect a yellow jacket to swoop in for a bite.
Condiments & Sauces
Surprisingly, yellow jackets also gravitate toward sauces, dressings, and spreads. Not surprising because they all have a good amount of sugar and/or fat content.
Ketchup
Mayonnaise
Salad dressings (Ranch, French, Italian)
Even a small drip of sauce on a napkin can become their next target.
Beer, Wine & Fermented Drinks
Some yellow jackets are attracted to alcoholic beverages. Not because they party, but because of the sweet, fermented sugars. That yeasty scent can mimic ripe fruit or nectar to them.
If you’re sipping sangria or cracking open a beer, keep an eye out for unexpected visitors.
What Happens to the Leftovers?
Once you’re done eating, yellow jackets stick around. They’re natural scavengers, and they’ll eagerly clean up:
Food crumbs
Fruit rinds
Juice spills
Trash that isn’t sealed
To them, your picnic is a free-for-all.
How to Keep Yellow Jackets Away from Your Picnic
Don’t let these buzzkills ruin your day. Use these proven strategies to deter yellow jackets naturally and safely:
✅ 1. Cover and Contain Food
Keep all food and drinks in sealed containers. Use mesh covers or coolers with tight lids when not actively eating.
✅ 2. Skip the Sugary Drinks
Opt for unsweetened iced tea or plain water. If you’re using cups, use lids or pour drinks only when ready to consume.
✅ 3. Keep Trash Tightly Sealed
Bring resealable bags or a lidded bin to contain trash and food scraps until you can dispose of them properly.
✅ 4. Set Up Decoy Traps
Place yellow jacket traps 20+ feet away from your picnic zone. This distracts them with bait and keeps them away from your food.
✅ 5. Avoid Floral Scents
Skip perfumes, lotions, and candles that smell like flowers or fruit. Yellow jackets use scent to find food.
FAQ: Yellow Jackets & Outdoor Eating
Q: Why are yellow jackets more aggressive in late summer?
A: Their food sources dwindle, and the colony is desperate for sugar and protein, making them more persistent around humans.
Q: Will yellow jackets sting if I ignore them?
A: Usually no. But sudden swats or movements can provoke them. Stay calm and gently move away.
Q: Do citronella candles repel yellow jackets?
A: Not effectively. They deter mosquitoes but have minimal effect on wasps.
Pro Tip from the Field
At Vegas Bees, we’ve responded to dozens of emergency removal calls where homeowners thought they had “bees”, only to discover yellow jackets had built a nest near their patio or yard.
Unlike honey bees, yellow jackets are not pollinators, they’re aggressive scavengers and predators. If you see them frequently, it’s possible there’s a nest nearby.
Need help identifying the invaders? Contact us, and we’ll help you sort bees from wasps, and remove them safely if needed.
Enjoy Your Picnic Without the Sting
Yellow jackets are persistent, but with a little planning, you can reclaim your picnic and enjoy your meal in peace.
Just remember: they’re not out to get you. They’re just opportunistic feeders trying to stock up. Seal your snacks, stay calm, and if you need backup, we’re always just a buzz away.
Betsy and Pete
Las Vegas, Nevada
About Us: The Authors
We're Betsy and Pete, passionate Las Vegas beekeepers trained by a master in the field. With hundreds of successful bee and bee swarm removals under our belts, we're not just experts; we're enthusiasts committed to the well-being of these incredible pollinators.
We manage dozens of beehives, both natural and honey-bearing at our Joshua Tree Preserve.
Our Commitment to Excellence
We believe education is an ongoing journey, especially in a field as dynamic as beekeeping. That's why we're continually updating our knowledge base, collaborating with other experts, and staying up to date with the latest advancements in bee control methods and beekeeping practices.
We also provide top-tier beekeeping supplies, offering everything a beekeeper needs, from beginners to experts.
