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- Aug 4, 2014
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Hi everyone!
I'm having a hell of a time with some yellowjackets at the feeding station at one of my colonies.
I have a very short window I can feed them in due to nocturnal wildlife and vultures during the day. I feed at 6 am, and used to pick up the food sometime between 8-9 am until recently. I've been picking it up earlier and earlier trying to beat the yellow jackets, but it's starting to get to the point where I'll only be able to give them about 30 minutes to eat, and ideally, I'd like to give them a little longer for various reasons.
I don't know where the nest is, but it's very likely on someone's property nearby and I'm trying to remain discreet, so I'd rather not approach neighbors. Likewise, setting out a trap also isn't very feasible or safe in this particular area, so a repellent is more or less my only option aside from only giving them a 30 minute window to eat.
I've read and found at least one study that indicated certain essential oils can be used to repel yellowjackets, and of those, peppermint oil appeared to be the most cat-friendly.
I was wondering if anyone might have any insight on some of the products I'm looking at.
Peppermint oil pellets -
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z788D1W/?tag=thecatsite
Peppermint oil spray by the same company -
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KCRRPS8/?tag=thecatsite
Both are supposedly pet friendly.
My main concerns are
1. Safety for the cats
2. That it won't repel the cats as well
Anyone got any ideas?
I'm having a hell of a time with some yellowjackets at the feeding station at one of my colonies.
I have a very short window I can feed them in due to nocturnal wildlife and vultures during the day. I feed at 6 am, and used to pick up the food sometime between 8-9 am until recently. I've been picking it up earlier and earlier trying to beat the yellow jackets, but it's starting to get to the point where I'll only be able to give them about 30 minutes to eat, and ideally, I'd like to give them a little longer for various reasons.
I don't know where the nest is, but it's very likely on someone's property nearby and I'm trying to remain discreet, so I'd rather not approach neighbors. Likewise, setting out a trap also isn't very feasible or safe in this particular area, so a repellent is more or less my only option aside from only giving them a 30 minute window to eat.
I've read and found at least one study that indicated certain essential oils can be used to repel yellowjackets, and of those, peppermint oil appeared to be the most cat-friendly.
I was wondering if anyone might have any insight on some of the products I'm looking at.
Peppermint oil pellets -
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z788D1W/?tag=thecatsite
Peppermint oil spray by the same company -
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KCRRPS8/?tag=thecatsite
Both are supposedly pet friendly.
My main concerns are
1. Safety for the cats
2. That it won't repel the cats as well
Anyone got any ideas?