I noticed this when I was mowing the lawn yesterday.

It’s impressive that this photo can be sent to a data center hosting an AI, to get Grok’s opinion.

This is a nest built by hornets (likely Bald-faced Hornets).

Bald-faced Hornet (Dolichovespula maculata): Very common in North America. They build these large, gray, enclosed nests in trees, shrubs, and under eaves. Despite the name, they are actually a type of yellowjacket.

Yellowjackets are dicks.  I don’t need an AI to figure that out.  The nest is big.  Bigger than my head or a basketball. 

Safety note: These are social wasps and can be defensive if the nest is disturbed. They are beneficial predators that eat garden pests, so it’s often best to leave them alone if they’re not in a high-traffic area. If removal is needed, contact a professional pest control service rather than trying it yourself.

Are they beneficial, or is Grok an apologist for hornets?  The nest is not in a high traffic area.

The nest is about 10 feet up.  I will leave it alone for now, but want to shoot it with a shotgun.

Let’s ask Grok’s opinion.

No, absolutely do not shoot the nest with a shotgun.

That’s a terrible idea for multiple reasons:

  • The hornets will swarm aggressively. Shooting or heavily disturbing an active nest usually triggers a massive defensive response. The surviving wasps will come pouring out and chase you. A shotgun blast is unlikely to instantly kill the entire colony (queens and workers inside are protected by the paper layers).
  • Safety risks: Pellets can ricochet, damage trees/property, or go beyond your target. You could easily end up with dozens of stings (Bald-faced hornets have painful venom) while trying to run away.
  • Legal issues: In most places, discharging a firearm for pest control—especially in suburban or residential areas—is illegal or heavily restricted. You could face fines, animal control complaints, or worse if something goes wrong.
  • Ineffective and messy: The nest will be shredded but you’ll still have angry hornets around, possibly building new nests nearby.

Better options:

  1. Leave it alone if it’s not near doors, walkways, or high-traffic areas. Hornets are beneficial predators that eat caterpillars and other garden pests. The nest will naturally die off in late fall/winter.
  2. Professional removal: Call a licensed pest control service. They have the right tools, protective gear, and insecticides for safe, effective removal (often at night when the wasps are less active).
  3. DIY (only if you’re experienced and it’s small/accessible): Use a wasp/hornet spray designed for aerial nests (long-range aerosol). Do it at night, wear protective clothing, and have an escape route. But honestly, for a nest this size, pros are safer.

If the nest is in a dangerous spot (e.g., right by your door), prioritize calling experts over any DIY heroics. Stay safe!

Thanks Grok, that is a well-reasoned and persuasive answer.

If they leave me alone, I will leave them alone.  If they act like the dicks that they are, I will go out a night and hose them down with hornet spray until their precious paper ball is saturated with toxins.