The northern giant hornet, commonly known as the “murder hornet,” has been eradicated from Washington, and the entire country.
No northern giant hornets have been detected in the country for three years, the Washington State Department of Agriculture announced in a Wednesday, Dec. 18 news release. Since 2019, WSDA, along with state, federal and international governmental agencies, have led efforts to find and eradicate the hornets.
The northern giant hornet was first detected in North America in British Columbia in August 2019, and then in Washington that December. Almost all of the hornets found in the country were detected in Whatcom County, where WSDA located and eradicated a hornet nest in 2020. Three more nests were eradicated in 2021. Community members and groups in Whatcom County participated in efforts to trap these hornets over the last several years.
The hornets posed a threat to honey bees, other pollinators and native insects, according to the news release, as well as humans, with their harmful sting.
“Without the public’s support for this effort, it is unlikely we would be announcing the eradication of northern giant hornet today,” said Sven Spichiger, WSDA pest program manager. “All of our nest detections resulted directly or indirectly from public reports. And half of our confirmed detections came from the public. The people of Washington can be proud that we did this by working together.”
A community member in Kitsap County reported a “suspicious hornet” in October, but WSDA said trapping and outreach did not yield “additional evidence of hornets in the area.” The association will continue trapping in the area in 2025 as a “precautionary measure.”
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
