If you’ve been wondering whether this could be a heavier year for stinging insects, there’s a good reason for that instinct. The combination of a mild winter followed by a warm spring has set the stage for increased populations of wasps, yellowjackets, and bald-faced hornets across Western Washington.

To understand why, it helps to start with how these insects survive the winter. Unlike ants, most stinging insect colonies don’t make it through the colder months. As winter sets in, the existing colony dies off, and only fertilized queens survive. These queens find protected places to overwinter—under bark, in soil, or inside structures—waiting for conditions to improve.

Each one of those surviving queens has the potential to start an entirely new colony in the spring. In a typical year, winter plays an important role in limiting how many of those queens make it. Colder temperatures can reduce survival rates and delay early activity.

Even more important is what happens during the transition between winter and spring. As temperatures begin to rise, queens emerge from their overwintering sites and begin searching for food and nesting locations. This is a critical and vulnerable period; if freezing temperatures return during this window, many of those newly active queens won’t survive, which naturally reduces the number of colonies that develop.

This year, we didn’t see much of that in Western Washington.

While there were a few colder days, we did not experience sustained freezing conditions during that early spring transition. That matters more than most people realize. It means that a higher percentage of queens not only survived the winter, but also successfully made it through that early emergence period. Instead of being knocked back, populations were allowed to continue building.

As a result, we’re entering the season with more active queens establishing nests across the region. Those early nests may be small and easy to miss right now, but they are already in motion. With a warm spring supporting continued development, these colonies will grow faster and reach larger sizes as we move into summer.

In our area, that typically translates into more frequent encounters with stinging insects around homes and properties. Yellowjackets often establish nests underground or inside wall voids. Paper wasps tend to build under eaves and overhangs. Bald-faced hornets construct aerial nests in trees and shrubs. Early in the season, these nests are relatively small, but as the colony grows, so does the level of activity and defensiveness.

By mid-to-late summer, a single colony can contain hundreds or even thousands of individuals. When more colonies are established early, the overall pressure increases across the communities we serve—from Seattle down through Tacoma and the surrounding areas.

The key takeaway is that conditions this year have favored survival and growth rather than natural reduction. A mild winter followed by a smooth transition into spring doesn’t guarantee a severe season, but it does shift the odds toward higher populations.

If you’re noticing activity earlier than usual, it’s likely a reflection of those conditions. A small, quiet nest in spring can become a significant problem by July or August—and the sooner it’s addressed, the simpler and safer the removal.

If you’re seeing wasp, yellowjacket, or hornet activity around your home, we serve homeowners across the Puget Sound area. Contact us for a free inspection!