Hi...

I have a Coleman kettle-style bbq and, lately, I've noticed that wasps
have been very active in coming and going out of the vent holes near
the bottom of it. The nest isn't visible to me.. it must be between
the bottom where the ashes fall and the second bottom where the
ventilator opens and closes.

I'm afraid that if I fire it up (I use an electric coil starter with
briquettes), the wasps will get angry and attack me and I'll have to
call 9-1-1 to unplug the firestarter device. I'm afraid to spray it
with wasp-killer chemicals as the pesticides may cling to the food
that I may later cook. And, I have lamb marinating for shishkebab that
I'm ready to grill. I haven't used the bbq all winter, so I don't know
how big the nest is now...

Anyone have any advice on how to solve this dilemma?

Thank you in advance for your help on this...

Kren

Karen O'Mara wrote:
>
> Hi...
>
> I have a Coleman kettle-style bbq and, lately, I've noticed that wasps
> have been very active in coming and going out of the vent holes near
> the bottom of it. The nest isn't visible to me.. it must be between
> the bottom where the ashes fall and the second bottom where the
> ventilator opens and closes.
>
> I'm afraid that if I fire it up (I use an electric coil starter with
> briquettes), the wasps will get angry and attack me and I'll have to
> call 9-1-1 to unplug the firestarter device. I'm afraid to spray it
> with wasp-killer chemicals as the pesticides may cling to the food
> that I may later cook. And, I have lamb marinating for shishkebab that
> I'm ready to grill. I haven't used the bbq all winter, so I don't know
> how big the nest is now...
>
> Anyone have any advice on how to solve this dilemma?
>
> Thank you in advance for your help on this...

Well ... I had something similar with my compost bin ... I called the
local honey farmer and he would have come out with his smoke and
whatnot. Maybe there's a place near you like that? Or just call a
pest control place and explain you do not want pesticides used.

nancy

Karen O'Mara wrote:
> Hi...
>
> I have a Coleman kettle-style bbq and, lately, I've noticed that wasps
> have been very active in coming and going out of the vent holes near
> the bottom of it. The nest isn't visible to me.. it must be between
> the bottom where the ashes fall and the second bottom where the
> ventilator opens and closes.
>
> I'm afraid that if I fire it up (I use an electric coil starter with
> briquettes), the wasps will get angry and attack me and I'll have to
> call 9-1-1 to unplug the firestarter device. I'm afraid to spray it
> with wasp-killer chemicals as the pesticides may cling to the food
> that I may later cook. And, I have lamb marinating for shishkebab that
> I'm ready to grill. I haven't used the bbq all winter, so I don't know
> how big the nest is now...
>
> Anyone have any advice on how to solve this dilemma?
>
> Thank you in advance for your help on this...
>
> Kren

You have to open the top to put in the starter and the briquettes. If
that doesn't disturb the wasps enough for them to get buzzed, I don't
think putting briquettes in with liquid starter would bother them either.

Why not get a source of smoke down where they go in and out, crack the
lid a bit and smoke them out?

Call your pest control guys, a local company, and let them do it. That's
what they get paid for. Also, if they are a firm that advertises, have
them tape it and give them permission to use it in their advertising, no
job too small. . . A lot different than showing houses and so that are
normally featured.


jim

Karen O'Mara wrote:
> Hi...
>
> I have a Coleman kettle-style bbq and, lately, I've noticed that wasps
> have been very active in coming and going out of the vent holes near
> the bottom of it. The nest isn't visible to me.. it must be between
> the bottom where the ashes fall and the second bottom where the
> ventilator opens and closes.
>
> I'm afraid that if I fire it up (I use an electric coil starter with
> briquettes), the wasps will get angry and attack me and I'll have to
> call 9-1-1 to unplug the firestarter device. I'm afraid to spray it
> with wasp-killer chemicals as the pesticides may cling to the food
> that I may later cook. And, I have lamb marinating for shishkebab that
> I'm ready to grill. I haven't used the bbq all winter, so I don't know
> how big the nest is now...
>
> Anyone have any advice on how to solve this dilemma?
>
> Thank you in advance for your help on this...
>
> Kren


Carefully burn them out at night with some charcoal lighter fluid. The
important thing is to do it at night while they are sleeping.

-bob

Karen O'Mara > wrote in message
om...
> I have a Coleman kettle-style bbq and, [..] wasps' nest
[snip]
> Anyone have any advice on how to solve this dilemma?

Two things come to mind immediately. Wait until night, when the buggers are
sleeping, start a fire and light 'em up. One round of a moderate fire will
solve your problem. To prevent them from coming back, you'll need to add
some wire mesh over the vent holes.

Don't do this during daylight hours because none of them will be there, or
they'll be flying in and out making them hostile and you [more] nervous.

The Ranger

"Karen O'Mara" > wrote in message
om...
> Hi...
>
> I have a Coleman kettle-style bbq and, lately, I've noticed that wasps
> have been very active in coming and going out of the vent holes near
> the bottom of it. The nest isn't visible to me.. it must be between
> the bottom where the ashes fall and the second bottom where the
> ventilator opens and closes.

Idea: Shut the bottom ventilator, stick a funnel in one hole of the top
ventilator (covering other holes) and pour in a bottle of clear unscented
household ammonia. Come back a couple hours later, wasps all dead. Rinse
out bbq with garden hose, light fire, and you're done.

Karen O'Mara wrote:

> I have a Coleman kettle-style bbq and, lately, I've noticed that wasps
> have been very active in coming and going out of the vent holes near
> the bottom of it. The nest isn't visible to me.. it must be between
> the bottom where the ashes fall and the second bottom where the
> ventilator opens and closes.
>
> I'm afraid that if I fire it up (I use an electric coil starter with
> briquettes), the wasps will get angry and attack me and I'll have to
> call 9-1-1 to unplug the firestarter device. I'm afraid to spray it
> with wasp-killer chemicals as the pesticides may cling to the food
> that I may later cook. And, I have lamb marinating for shishkebab that
> I'm ready to grill. I haven't used the bbq all winter, so I don't know
> how big the nest is now...
>
> Anyone have any advice on how to solve this dilemma?
>

Just get a good fire going in there and stand back. That will get rid of
them fast enough.

"Daniel R. Levy" > wrote:

>
>"Karen O'Mara" > wrote in message
. com...
>> Hi...
>>
>> I have a Coleman kettle-style bbq and, lately, I've noticed that wasps
>> have been very active in coming and going out of the vent holes near
>> the bottom of it. The nest isn't visible to me.. it must be between
>> the bottom where the ashes fall and the second bottom where the
>> ventilator opens and closes.
>
>Idea: Shut the bottom ventilator, stick a funnel in one hole of the top
>ventilator (covering other holes) and pour in a bottle of clear unscented
>household ammonia. Come back a couple hours later, wasps all dead. Rinse
>out bbq with garden hose, light fire, and you're done.
>
That sounds like a great idea.

Dennis

"Daniel R. Levy" > wrote in message
m...
>
> "Karen O'Mara" > wrote in message
> om...
> > Hi...
> >
> > I have a Coleman kettle-style bbq and, lately, I've noticed that wasps
> > have been very active in coming and going out of the vent holes near
> > the bottom of it. The nest isn't visible to me.. it must be between
> > the bottom where the ashes fall and the second bottom where the
> > ventilator opens and closes.
>
> Idea: Shut the bottom ventilator, stick a funnel in one hole of the top
> ventilator (covering other holes) and pour in a bottle of clear unscented
> household ammonia. Come back a couple hours later, wasps all dead. Rinse
> out bbq with garden hose, light fire, and you're done.

Or, less messy, cover the grate with a large folded towel before doing this,
or put ammonia soaked towel on bbq then cover it quick. Will keep ammonia
from running out of cracks onto the ground, means fumes will stick around
longer to zap all bugs.

[*I* am the *real* Dan Levy, all others are fake]

"Dan Levy" > wrote in message >...
> Or, less messy, cover the grate with a large folded towel before doing this,
> or put ammonia soaked towel on bbq then cover it quick. Will keep ammonia
> from running out of cracks onto the ground, means fumes will stick around
> longer to zap all bugs.
>
> [*I* am the *real* Dan Levy, all others are fake]

Thanks for all of the suggestions, everyone. I'm not sure I'm brave
enough to attempt any of them, tho'. I have a towel wrapped around it
right now. Am considering everything. May have to buy a new bbq...

Karen