Blackberry Surprise Revisited

Some of you may remember about a month ago I wrote about my husband pruning back the wild blackberry that is threatening to take over the world. In that post I went on to explain the very startling surprise he made when he came across a very large wasp nest. In that post I also mentioned I had found instructions on the internet for keeping the nest for displaying once the wasps abandon it in the fall and winter months. (Clicking on the picture of the nest will take you to the first post about this wasp nest.)

I decided to go take a peek at the nest today to see how it was doing and to also see if it was still there. I guess I must have had a hunch that something happened to it because on my way up the little incline to where it is located in the blackberry bush I noticed a few things weren’t right. It is funny how when you come across something that shouldn’t be the way it is when you come across it your mind takes a little bit of time to register just what you are looking at. That is exactly what happened to me when I made my way to the area of the blackberry where the nest was hidden.

The first thing I noticed was a path through the weeds had been made into the blackberry bush. We have not gone back there with our weed eater since my husband made his discovery for fear of disturbing the nest so consequently the grass and weeds are overgrown around that area of the blackberry. There is now a very noticeable path through the grass and weeds that I know was not there before.

In the picture above you can see the path that was made into the blackberry.

The second thing I noticed was bits of the nest scattered all around the outside of the blackberry. Being rather foolish as I was so baffled by what I was seeing, I tried to get a little bit closer to the bush to see just what might have happened to the nest. I unknowingly stepped on a twig that snapped and upon hearing the snap a bunch of wasps began to fly out from under some of the mutilated nest pieces. I did not think there were any wasps still remaining! If I had realized this I would have most certainly not gotten so close to the bush. I’m sure you can imagine just how quickly I got my too curious behind out of there.

The gray colored bits that look like fallen leaves are some pieces of the nest that remain. Don't let the picture fool you- I was NOT that close to the bush when I took these pictures. I just have a good zoom on my camera! I am staying away from that area for awhile now!

So, as I sit in the safety of the house typing this I speculate what might have became of this very large nest that was destined to be studied by my boys but is now no more. Of course my first thought is of my lovely little friend, the Red Fox. My boys want to believe it was a black bear as these have, on occasion, been spotted up here where we live. I think I will stick with the image of the fox in the blackberry bush thank you very much.

Whatever cleared that path into the bush seemed to have deliberately torn apart that nest. It also seems to have just happened too judging by how the wasps are acting. I am wondering if it was last night. Something enjoys my backyard a little too much at night!

It has been one interesting turn of events after another with my garden at night this year. I am ready to set up surveillance to catch these mysterious night raiders in the act!

Tagged as: Wasps