Hear from Our Customers
You’ll walk your yard without fear. Your kids can play outside safely again. Your outdoor gatherings won’t be interrupted by aggressive hornets defending their territory.
That’s what happens when hornets are eliminated properly. No more watching over your shoulder when you’re grilling. No more rushing inside when you hear that distinctive buzzing. No more worrying about painful stings or dangerous allergic reactions.
Professional hornet removal in Ortonville means complete colony elimination—not just knocking down visible nests. We target the source, eliminate the entire population, and seal entry points so they can’t rebuild in the same spots.
First Choice Pest Control has been serving Ortonville since 2005. Roger brings 26 years of experience to every hornet removal job, understanding exactly how these aggressive insects behave in Michigan’s climate.
We’re the local company that keeps the same technician on your property year after year. No part-time college students. No rotating staff who don’t know your specific situation.
Ortonville homeowners trust us because we’re certified in integrated pest management, recognized by Angie’s List and Home Advisor, and we offer special pricing for seniors, veterans, and first responders. When your neighbors need hornet removal, they call us.
First, we locate every nest on your property. Hornets build in eaves, outbuildings, trees, and sometimes inside wall voids. Our thorough inspection finds them all, even the ones you haven’t noticed yet.
Next, we apply professional-grade treatments directly to nesting sites. We use specialized equipment that reaches high nests safely and delivers treatments that penetrate the entire colony. This isn’t a surface spray—we eliminate the queen, workers, larvae, and pupae.
Finally, we remove the nests and seal potential entry points. Hornets often try to rebuild in the same locations, so we create physical barriers that prevent future infestations. You get documentation of what we found and what we did, so you know exactly how your property is protected.
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Complete property inspection with photo documentation of all nesting sites. Professional-grade elimination treatments that target entire colonies, not just visible hornets. Safe removal of nests, including those 20+ feet high in trees or under rooflines.
Sealing of entry points and potential nesting sites to prevent reinfestation. Follow-up inspection to ensure complete elimination. Emergency response for dangerous situations where hornets are threatening family safety.
In Ortonville’s suburban setting, hornets commonly nest in mature trees, under deck overhangs, and in the eaves of older homes. Our local experience means we know where to look and how to access these challenging locations safely. We handle everything from single nests to multiple colonies on large properties.
Hornets are significantly more dangerous than bees or most wasps. They can sting multiple times without dying, inject more venom per sting, and are much more aggressive when defending their nests.
In Michigan, what people call “hornets” are often bald-faced hornets or European hornets. Both species will swarm when threatened, meaning one disturbed nest can result in dozens of stings. For people with allergies, even a single hornet sting can be life-threatening.
Unlike bees that only sting when directly threatened, hornets will chase perceived threats for considerable distances. They’re also active later into the fall than many other stinging insects, making them a danger well into October in the Ortonville area.
Never attempt hornet nest removal yourself. This is one of the most dangerous pest control situations homeowners face, and DIY attempts regularly result in multiple stings and emergency room visits.
Store-bought sprays don’t penetrate large nests effectively and often just anger the hornets. Ladder work near active nests is extremely hazardous—hornets attack the face and head first, which can cause falls from height. Even “empty” nests may contain dozens of hornets.
Professional removal uses specialized protective equipment, extended-reach application tools, and treatments specifically designed for complete colony elimination. We have the training to identify escape routes, predict hornet behavior, and safely access nests in challenging locations like high eaves or dense tree canopies.
Early detection and removal is always best, but hornets can be safely eliminated at any time during their active season. In Michigan, this typically runs from late spring through the first hard frost in October or November.
Late summer removal requires extra caution because colonies are at peak size and hornets are more aggressive as they prepare for winter. However, waiting isn’t recommended—hornets don’t “go away” on their own, and nests continue growing throughout the season.
We handle emergency removals year-round when hornets pose immediate safety risks. Evening treatments are often most effective because more hornets are in the nest, but we adjust timing based on nest location and safety considerations for your specific situation.
Hornets often return to successful nesting sites, so prevention is a critical part of effective removal. We seal cracks, gaps, and crevices where hornets originally entered structures like eaves, soffits, and wall voids.
For tree nests, we remove all nest material and treat the area to eliminate pheromone markers that attract new colonies. We also identify and address conditions that made the location attractive—things like nearby food sources, water access, or sheltered building areas.
Property modifications might include trimming vegetation that provides easy access to nesting sites, sealing gaps in exterior structures, and removing attractants like uncovered garbage or pet food. We provide specific recommendations based on your property’s unique characteristics and the species we eliminated.
True hornets in Michigan are primarily European hornets—large, reddish-brown insects up to 1.5 inches long. What most people call “hornets” are actually bald-faced hornets, which are technically large yellowjackets with distinctive white markings.
Yellowjackets are smaller, more aggressive, and often nest underground or in wall cavities. Paper wasps are slender with long legs and build smaller, open-comb nests. Bees are fuzzy, less aggressive, and critical pollinators that we relocate when possible rather than eliminate.
Proper identification matters because treatment methods vary significantly between species. Hornets and bald-faced hornets require more aggressive treatment due to their defensive behavior and larger colony sizes. Our technicians are trained to identify all stinging insects common to the Ortonville area and adjust treatment accordingly.
We prioritize emergency hornet situations, especially when people with known allergies are at risk or when nests are discovered in high-traffic areas like playgrounds, doorways, or outdoor dining spaces.
Same-day service is often available for urgent situations in Ortonville. We understand that hornets don’t wait for convenient timing—they become most active during warm afternoons when families are outside, and nests are often discovered suddenly when someone gets too close.
Our response time depends on current service load and weather conditions, but we’ve built our business around being available when local families need us most. Emergency situations get priority scheduling, and we maintain equipment specifically for after-hours calls when hornet activity poses immediate safety risks.
