Stinging, meat-seeking yellow jackets have helped temporarily shut down educational programs held at the Ojai Raptor Center.
An infestation of the wasps grew with recent triple-digit heat at the nonprofit rehabilitation center and hospital that specializes in caring for sick, injured and orphaned birds of prey.
Known as meat bees because they feed protein to their larvae, the yellow jackets are attracted by the pouches of food bird trainers use during educational programs for private or community groups. When trainers reach into the pouch for a morsel to reward one of the center’s ambassador birds, they find more than food.
“They get stung right and left,” said Kimberly Stroud, the center’s executive director and founder, noting the yellow jackets also can cluster around the birds as they eat their rewards.
To protect people and birds, the center paused its on-site educational programs in August. The activities are set to resume in October. The center’s rehabilitation services and other activities continue.