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Pro tip: That time I found a wasp nest inside a dead oak at a job in Austin
I was climbing a big dead oak last spring near downtown Austin, about 50 feet up. Started cutting a limb and heard this loud buzzing. Turns out a whole nest had moved into a hollow section I couldn't see from the ground. Now I always tap the trunk with a pole saw before making cuts on any deadwood. Has anyone else had close calls with hidden nests?
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king.kevin17d agoMost Upvoted
DUDE I gotta push back a little. I've been climbing for over 15 years and I've seen guys tap dead trees with poles so hard they shook the whole trunk. That can actually knock a hollow section loose or make a nest drop RIGHT on your head instead of letting you find it gently. I just work slow and use a small hand saw first on sketchy limbs. Gives me time to hear buzzing without agitating whatever's inside. Tapping is fine for checking soundness but it's not great for wasp detection in my experience.
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hayden58717d ago
Used to think tapping was just an old timer superstition, but after almost getting my head taken off by yellow jackets in a dead pine, yeah I get it now. That buzzing sound is something else when you're up that high.
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