Hi,

I don't know of any way to make them leave an area, but, the traps work well (or the local skunk - if it finds them).

The nest itself is unlikely to survive the winter, but you may get another nest in the compost pile in the future.

Leaving them alone is a good option, but if the area is one used by people/kids (on a frequent basis) then the risk of a sting (or several) escalates.

A single sting is fine (if you're not allergic - and don't mind the swelling/pain), multiple stings increase the possibility of an adverse reaction.

Dad

This can happen when the inside of the pile dries out (it's happened to me also). I would definitely tear the pile apart after a few hard frosts, but in the meantime, you could (carefully) lay a hose on top of the pile, cover it with a tarp, and turn the hose on low pressure for a while to flood them out. It would be best to do this on a cool night, when they're in the pile and less active. Just be very careful - having a colony of angry yellow jacks is not a good thing! Alternately, you could get a shop vac, put the hose end by the entrance before sunrise, and run it for a couple of hours. Do NOT open the vac for a week or so afterwards, and close off the hose end. This should remove most of the colony.

Yup...I know this one! I was stung in the back last year turning my pile. They didn't come back to nest this year, but that may be because the gardener snake moved in LOL!

Vera