Residents of Middle Village, Queens, are expressing frustration after the city’s Parks Department declined to remove a large bald-faced hornets’ nest located about 10 feet high in a tree near the intersection of Cowles Court and Dry Harbor Road. The nest, roughly the size of two basketballs, was discovered close to the home of a 79-year-old woman, prompting calls for city intervention.

Representatives from Councilman Phil Wong’s office contacted the Parks Department on behalf of concerned constituents, requesting the extermination or removal of the nest. However, the department responded that it would not take direct action, citing the ecological importance of hornets. Camile Easterling, assistant to the borough commissioner, explained in an email that bees and wasps contribute to pollination and help control populations of harmful insects.

The Parks Department advised that if relocation of the nest is deemed necessary, residents should hire a qualified insect relocator and obtain a permit for any work involving a city tree. This process, according to industry estimates, can cost between $200 and $800. The department also suggested that in emergencies, residents contact 911, noting that the New York Police Department has a unit trained in beekeeping.

Councilman Wong criticized the response as insufficient, arguing that residents should not be burdened with permit requirements, contractor fees, or the risk of injury. “Parks needs to do its job before somebody gets hurt,” Wong said, characterizing the department’s stance as “absurd.”

Local resident Betty Coccaro expressed concern about the city’s prioritization of insect welfare over human safety, particularly given that some people face life-threatening allergic reactions to stings. “I could see if it was bees because you can get honey out of them, but the only thing you can get out of this is being stung,” she said, questioning why removal was not pursued.

Cornell University’s Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann, coordinator of the Integrated Pest Management program, acknowledged that bald-faced hornets generally build nests high in trees and tend to avoid human contact but recognized the community’s apprehension. She dismissed the idea of relocating the nest as impractical, stating that extermination by a professional is a more appropriate course of action.

The situation highlights tensions between environmental conservation efforts and public safety concerns in urban settings. For now, affected residents must navigate city regulations and contractor costs if they wish to have the hornets’ nest removed.