The "Hole" Thing

  During our evening walk, the old dog refused to go any further.  He balked about going down the hill.  He turned this way and that instead of following the path.  Then, he sat and was not about to go any further.  One thing is certain about this fellow, when he decides to do something (or not do), there is no changing his mind.  So, I changed my course and took him back inside.  I really had no choice.  Once inside, he happily plopped on his bed and looked at me as if to say, "I won!"  Yeah, you did.

  After getting the dog settled, Mark and I continued our stroll about the hillside.  Our hikes do not go "down the hill" simply because that is the dog's designated potty spot.  We meander across the top of the hill and then down around behind the canebrake.  That path, however, could have meant trouble if we had taken the dog.  I am glad he rarely goes across the area especially after this evening. 

  As we were walking, Mark and I both noticed a rather large hole in the ground.  It was probably a good two inches in diameter and the sides were smooth.  Hmm?  My first thought was that the voles had returned but on closer inspection, I found that having voles would have been far better.  This was a yellow jacket nest entrance!!  Goodness!  That hole seemed a lot larger now!  As we stood there watching, nigh on fifty of the wasps entered the hole.  Had the old dog stumbled across the hole, he would have been covered in a matter of minutes. The poor old dog would have received many painful stings. The fact that he never goes this path and his bull-headedness saved him!

  Once again, however, I must say that these wasps were rather docile.  Mark and I both were within a foot of the hole when we were pondering the source.  Not one of the yellow jackets made an attempt to attack.  They were intent on doing whatever they do down in the hole and were oblivious to our presence.

  Mark took things in his own hands and got rid of  the yellow jackets.  He used a tried and true method of "Bottle of Gasoline in the Hole".  Find a bottle that has some sort of neck, fill it with gas, wait until dark and then turn the bottle upside down with the neck sticking down in the hole.  The gas pours into the nest below ground and kills the wasps that are inside.  Waiting until dark assures that most of the yellow jackets are inside the nest.  Every year since we have been here, we kill several nests like this.  It is the safest way of eradicating the critters.