As temperatures continue to rise, a problem affecting Fossil’s workshop has struck. Wasps. The construction area provides the wasps with the perfect environment to make their home. Hiding in wood, pipes, and building materials, crooks and cranes everywhere, they have used this area to thrive.

According to Michael Wilbourn, one of Fossil’s construction teachers, this year has been the worst they’ve had.

“It’s already creating serious problems for us; by May, they’ll have created massive nests hidden all over,” Wilbourn said.

Susan Curtis, a Fossil biology substitute, explains why it becomes such a problem.

“It’s not the wasps having few predators, it’s the availability of food. The workshop is right next to the dump, and they have easy access to food. They have easy areas to hide, they have the perfect conditions to spread,” Curtis said.

Wilbourn said the wasps have made it difficult to get to material.

“Anytime somebody goes over to the lumber or the panels, they’re almost always dealing with wasps.”

The problem has already led to injuries. Wilbourn has seen multiple students get stung over the years and is aware of some with allergies, which creates a real threat. 

“On top of getting stung, the wasps create a distraction to the class; many students panic or get startled by the wasps,” he said.

Wilbourn explains they are doing their best to address the issue, and many students have been assigned to locate and destroy the nests.

“We use soap-water in bottles and spray the wasps; they can’t breathe, and it just slowly suffocates them,” said Fossil student Henry Daher.

Students and teachers continue to do their best to adapt to the situation and be extra cautious while working. They hope to put in more traps around, but with the increasing temperatures, the wasps will continue to thrive and present threats to Fossil students.