I don't like killing things, but the wasps have got to go:

[callous taoboy]

Last year I allowed some yellow jackets to build a large nest near my front door. After all, they are pollinators as well and with the demise of the honey bee and all... Anyways, they always left me alone and it was kind of cool to see the progress on their nest.

This year, I guess the off-spring have returned because I have had to remove at least 8 nests near my front door and they seem to be a lot more interested in defending their turf.

Any suggestions?

[southpaw]

1. Yellow Jackets can be aggressive...

They don't seem to attack just for the hell of it, but they do actively defend their territory. I've been swarmed by the little buggers while cutting grass.

I'm loathe to kill needlessly... even insects... but I'd get a can of that Wasp and Hornet spray that kills on contact from twenty feet away.

[dropkickpa]

2. At night, spray their nests with vinegar

They'll take off and seek less stinky pastures. This has worked the best for me in getting them to move along without resorting to pesticides.

[callous taoboy]

3. One nest is built on the side of a large flower pot-

I was thinking about going out after dark (they can't see at night, apparently, and are inactive) and gently moving the pot to the back yard.

[dropkickpa]

4. If you don't mind them in the back,

I don't see why that wouldn't work! I'm allergic to them, so I try to nudge them along to somewhere else.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. Be very careful. They're inactive at night unless threatened.

Before moving the pot I'd wrap it completely so that the wasps who do try to defend would have a harder time getting to me.

[applegrove]

6. I had paper wasps last year on my deck. They wouldn't hurt a flea. This

year I had wasps that were canibalizing the paper wasps nest or something. I had to call the exterminators and the man was great. All stinging insects were gone from my deck for at least 2 months. Then I moved.