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If the snakes in your yard are non-venomous species (like common Rat or Garter snakes), why not consider the live-and-let-live approach? Some benefits of not getting rid of snakes include:

• They’re great at controlling disease-spreading rodent populations, including rats, mice, voles, and moles.

• Some non-venomous species (like the common kingsnake) eat venomous species like rattlesnakes and copperheads.

• Species like the garter snake keep down populations of garden pests like slugs and grasshoppers.

If the nest is on or in your home, you should have an exterminator remove it. However, if the wasp nest is in an area of your yard that you don't frequent, you can leave it alone as long as the wasps don’t bother your household members. Wasps are very active during the summer months, but they will vacate in the fall and not return until the following year. So, if it's safe to do so, you can leave it, but if it poses a threat of being stung because it's in an area that you use frequently, consider having it removed.

When woodpeckers start banging on your walls or roof, they are probably looking for insects to eat, storing nuts for winter, drilling a hole to make a nest, or communicating with other birds to establish territory or find a mate.

The size of the hole can help determine the reason for the pecking. Small irregular holes are a result of insect hunts. Acorn holes are more consistently sized and often fitted with a nut in the middle. Nest holes are large and have rounded edges. If the bird is pecking to mark its territory or attract a mate, it may leave dents rather than holes, and the noise will stop when the mating season starts in spring.

Professional wasp removal methods vary depending on the wasp species, nest location, and the severity of the infestation. Professionals use a range of techniques, including high-grade insecticides, pesticides, aerosols, insecticidal dust, liquids, and vacuuming. After exterminating the wasps, the technician will remove the active nest to prevent re-infestation. For a major or pervasive wasp problem, it is recommended to hire a professional to handle the issue safely and avoid painful stings.