You asked, so we asked: About the warning sign at Lincoln Park

Thanks to Sean for sending that photo of a warning sign spotted along the trail north of the central Lincoln Park parking lot. We asked Seattle Parks about it, and got this explanation from spokesperson Rachel Schulkin:

People were reporting to staff that they were being stung on this trail. We put up the sign to warn people until we could investigate and decide on next steps. Today we identified and sprayed a wasp nest. Sign should be gone now.

We also only spray wasps if they are a danger to the public, as was the case here. If they are high in trees or away from heavily used areas and don’t present a danger to the public or staff, we leave them.

Here’s more info on Parks’ pest-management policy; here’s more info about wasps and other stinging inspects.

anonyme July 28, 2021 (4:33 pm)

I have Great Golden Digger Wasps in my garden for the first time this year. Their appearance is alarming (large, orange-red, with a black-tipped abdomen) but apparently they are quite harmless and very unlikely to sting. They are quite fond of the sea holly, which seems to attract mostly wasps. Beautiful creatures.

Kersti Elisabeth Muul July 28, 2021 (5:40 pm)

They love the wild fennel at lowman
aRF July 28, 2021 (5:49 pm)

Thanks for posting about the Great Golden Digger Wasps. I spotted one yesterday in my lavender and wondered what it was.
Joan July 28, 2021 (8:09 pm)

Wow! I thought I identified a golden digger wasp in my garden a couple weeks ago. But all the sources I checked said they are not found here. Glad I was correct!
Alki resident July 28, 2021 (9:20 pm)

Same here. Never noticed them before yesterday. We have tons in our yard all of a sudden.

Hymenoptera July 28, 2021 (5:06 pm)

I wonder what kind of wasps were found. Some wasps are especially beneficial to the ecosystem.

Westwood July 28, 2021 (7:26 pm)

My guess would be bald faced hornets, if they were being that aggressive. Very beneficial but sadly usually have to go.

Julia July 28, 2021 (11:12 pm)

This is the third year we’ve had golden digger wasps in Fauntleroy. Spreading north, like the terrible chafer beetles. The wasps are amazing!

Yasmin July 29, 2021 (12:47 am)

Thanks for posting this. My husband was in the park yesterday walking our dog along that trail. He said out of nowhere, he was attacked by a swarm of wasps/hornets and stung over a dozen times. (And before anyone suggests otherwise: no, there was no visible sign of a nest and nothing was disturbed as they walked by) my husband called me frantic and in shock. I raced down to the park and when I got there, several other people had been stung. I tried to quickly retrieve my husband’s backpack, which he had thrown down during the attack, but then I was stung multiple times. That kind of attack could easily kill a child or elderly person. I’m very happy to hear this situation has been dealt with.

waikikigirl July 29, 2021 (5:16 pm)

OMG Yasmin I hope you 2 are OK! I got stung just once by a hornet in the thumb area and my hand swelled like a baseball glove, those buggers can be nasty!

Joe Z July 29, 2021 (9:46 am)

Golden diggers LOVE my mint plants this time of year.I bet the pest at Lincoln Park was a yellow jacket, I’ve been stung by them at Lincoln Park in the past.

Fran July 31, 2021 (4:46 pm)

The sign is still there, so are the wasps/hornets. I just got stung a couple of times. Please take the warning seriously!

Karna August 8, 2021 (1:18 pm)

I was walking in the park yesterday August 7th. I did see the signs but was walking on the path not disturbing a nest and I was sting several times! There really should be caution tap up and that path should be closed until this is under control.

Matthew August 8, 2021 (9:02 pm)

As I was walking my dog past the signs early this morning in Lincoln Park there was a loud buzzing and something in my hair, then a painful sting on the back of my head. My dog got loose from me as I swung to get whatever it was out of my hair, The sting got more painful for a few minutes then went away after about 10 minutes, since I have been allergic to bee stings in the past I was relieved that this sting went away so fast. Definitely avoid this area.

Galen August 16, 2021 (2:24 pm)

I was stung here today. There were some orange cones but no sign. We came down this trail from the north and the trail was not blocked. Putting the sign back up at both ends of the trail would be helpful in reducing harm.

max34 August 16, 2021 (3:30 pm)

For what its worth, my wife and i were SUPing down at Lowman Beach yesterday (8/15) and we observed several wasps going in and out of the driftwood as we were hanging out between sessions on the water. I had never seen many (if any) wasps in Seattle before then. Growing up in FL, they are very common, especially Mud Daubers. Because the wasps we saw were benign and not aggressive, i assumed that’s what they were. Kinda looked like them, but its been a while, so i’m not certain.

Jeanette R Lewis August 18, 2021 (10:58 am)

I was attacked by the upper parking lot I got stung through clothing the other comment was right there were no cones at the beginning of the trail only at the end of the trail the next day it was properly barricaded with caution tape and a Trail closed sign the next day lazy Park Department employees just put three cones there not properly barricading it like they did the next day to protect the public the three Cones were admitting they knew they had a problem I filled out a claim form and sent it to the city clerk