If someone's been stung
The City of Monash says stings to the face and neck, or many stings at once, can bring severe swelling or an allergic reaction. If someone has trouble breathing, call 000. Keep people and pets away from the nest and don't disturb it.
What the City of Monash tells Mulgrave
Wasps stay close to home
Monash says European wasps usually fly within 50m to 200m of their nest and are more common in summer. A steady stream of them over your fence means the nest may be in your yard or a neighbour's.
Wetlands on the doorstep
More than half of the 3km Mulgrave Reserve walk runs through the Corhanwarrabul Wetlands, and the Dandenong Creek Trail carries on to Jells Park. Monash says most mosquitoes develop quickly in warmer conditions, so heavy rain heading into summer is the time to empty anything holding water.
Council nests and private nests
Monash doesn't take wasp nests off private property. A nest in a park or reserve, or on a nature strip, is a call to the council.
Rats next door
If mice or rats on a neighbour's place are an ongoing problem, talk to them, or ask Monash's Public Health Unit to send an officer to advise them. The council also warns that rodent poisons put wildlife at real risk.
Where to look for the nest
Monash says nests turn up in the ground, in rubbish heaps, at the bottom of trees and shrubs, and in roofs, walls and under eaves. They're usually light grey, look like cardboard and are football sized or larger, with an entrance 2cm to 5cm wide.
About 80% of European wasp nests are in the ground, according to Victoria's Department of Health, so check lawns, garden beds and fence lines from a few metres back. Don't pour anything down the hole or try to plug it.
Possum removal in Mulgrave: what's allowed
People search for possum removal, but a Victorian possum can't simply be taken off your property. Possums are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975. A common brushtail may only be trapped in a cage trap by the owner or occupier and their family, a building manager or their staff, or a DEECA licensed Wildlife Controller. It must be let go on the same property, within 50 metres of where it was caught, after sunset that day. Trapping a ringtail without a permit is illegal.
So the real job is proofing. A pest business finds how the possum gets in, checks it has gone out for the night, and closes the gaps. We wouldn't try the trapping yourself. If it's a tree being eaten rather than a roof, Monash suggests a tree guard or possum band on the trunk, as a temporary measure until the tree recovers. Our possum page for Melbourne goes through the rules.
Worth asking before you say yes
- Where exactly is the nest, and how will you reach it?
- Which product will you use, and can I have its full name in writing?
- What's the drying or re-entry time, and what do I do with the dog?
- What results should I expect, and what does any warranty cover?
Our take on pests in Mulgrave
Find the line the wasps are flying, stay well back and leave the nest alone. If it's on your land, tap wasps and your postcode. If it's in a park or on a nature strip, ring Monash instead.
Want someone to look at it?
Tell us what you've seen and your postcode, and a local pest business that handles exactly that calls you to talk it through.
