Hundreds of yellow jackets attack mother, young kids

ATLANTA — A mother and her two young children were nearly killed in a yellow jacket attack in Buckhead.

Channel 2’s Liz Artz learned the family was decorating their house when the attack happened.

Melissa Hodges had just put out their pumpkins when hundreds of yellow jackets swarmed her and her two children outside their home.

"We literally sat on their house and they swarmed us. It was the most terrifying moment of my life," Hodges said.

Hodges, her 3-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter were attacked by the yellow jackets that came up from a nest under their front walk. She said she grabbed her kids and ran for cover.

“I was taking handfuls of yellow jackets and smashing them on our foyer," Hodges said.

Her daughter, just 30 pounds, was stung 30 times and her little boy was stung only 12 times, but was allergic to the sting.

“His face was huge. He was passed out, slumped over," Hodges said.

Hodges raced to the hospital where her children remained for the next two days. She said the wasp caused a pain that was unbearable for the small children.

"It was a burning like a match to your skin. It devastated me that my 4-year-old was feeling that kind of pain," Hodges said.

Hodges said she had no idea the yellow jackets had nested in her yard and since the attack last week, has learned of several other people who have had to run for cover.

“Just get them taken care of or take care of them yourself," said Jerry Billingslea from All Good Pest Solutions.

Billingslea said yellow jackets will be around until temperatures drop. He said even after several treatments, the Hodges aren't out of the woods yet.

"They’re going to try and re-infest this nest," Billingslea said.

WSBTV