Wasps creating bad buzz on bar, restaurant patios
'I can't even describe the numbers'
More wasps are being spotted on patios around Ottawa and some restaurants are using home remedies — as well as stronger solutions — to handle the unexpected and unwanted guests.
Grant Marley, general manager of the Senate Tavern, says that two weeks ago he started to notice there were more wasps than usual around the patio.
"I can't even describe the numbers, [people were unable to sit]," Marley said.
Tom Onuferko, a research associate in zoology at the Canadian Museum of Nature, said at this time of year it's normal to see more wasps. But Marley said the issue seems worse than last year.
Homemade honey and ginger beer mixture
To keep the wasps away, Marley decided to make a honey and ginger beer concoction. He filled plastic cups with the mixture, covered them with cellophane and poked holes in the top.
They've scattered the cups around the patio in hopes that the wasps will pay them more attention than their customers.
"When you sit down they still buzz around you but it definitely helps where they're not swarming," said Marley.
It beats using a coaster as a cup protector which some customers have opted to do.
Spraying to keep the problem from getting worse
But other restaurants with a more severe wasp problem have turned to spraying to solve the issue.
Amy Luther, general manager of the Mill Street Brew Pub, said they had professional companies come to spray the exterior of their building to get rid of the multiple wasp nests that were there.
Staff members have even told Luther about how bad it's been for other places and at their homes.
"It's been a real serious problem," said Luther, adding this is the worst the wasps have been in recent years.
"The number of wasps that we've seen this year compared to last year is so much more than we saw in 2020."
Your solutions
On Twitter @Sheila_YT suggested putting bowls of cloves out on tables because the scent deters most wasps.
We use bowls of cloves on our tables—learned from patios in Victoria BC. The scent deters (most!) wasps.<br><br>We hope patios in Ottawa stay open as long as possible: they’re the only way we can eat *safely in restaurants during the ongoing pandemic. We’ll happily wear coats to do so!
—@Sheila_YTSomeone on Instagram said to burn Turkish coffee and the smell and smoke will keep them away.
Another person suggested putting out a bowl of sugar water so they'll eat that and ignore other food available.
Have more tips? Send us an email CBC News.
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