- (301) 829-0060
- Mt. Airy, MD
- info@pestshieldinc.com
Pest Shield, Inc. has handled stinging insect removal across Frederick County since 2011, with same-day response documented across more than 100 reviews. Owner Troy Yowell personally responds to most bee calls and holds Maryland pesticide applicator certification #19058 under MDA business license #30263. Our team brings more than 75 years of combined pest management experience, including on-staff entomologist Jeffrey Allwine for species-level identification when field ID isn’t conclusive. Pest Shield is a Best of Frederick MD Pest Control winner and a four-time Best of Nextdoor honoree (2021–2024).
How it works
Four steps. No surprises. Same answer whether it's your first call or your tenth.
You reach Troy or someone on his team directly. No call center, no dispatcher, no routing.
Same-day or next-day for most calls. Emergency stinging-insect situations and real-estate WDI deadlines get priority.
We identify the species, locate entry points, and find the source — not just the symptom.
Written recommendation, straightforward pricing, no obligation. If you don't need treatment, we'll tell you.
Most bee calls start the same way: a Frederick homeowner notices steady bee traffic into one specific spot on the house. The bees aren’t curious — they’re working a nest, and that nest is almost always somewhere harder to reach than it looks. Active nests in structural voids don’t resolve on their own, and the longer a colony works a wall or soffit, the more entrenched it becomes.
Identification matters because honey bees, bumble bees, carpenter bees, wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets all nest in similar locations but require different treatment approaches. Honey bee colonies in wall voids carry additional considerations around comb and stored honey. Carpenter bees bore into wood rather than building paper nests. Field identification is part of every inspection, and samples can go to Jeffrey Allwine for entomological confirmation when needed. Frederick’s mix of older homes with aging soffits and wood trim, newer construction with vinyl siding gaps and exhaust vents, and wooded lots backing up to agricultural land creates consistent nesting pressure across the county.
60+ years of combined experience. Tell us what you’re seeing — we’ll come look, no obligation.
I emailed with a bald faced hornet issue. Troy called very quickly and we scheduled the next day. I didn’t have to be there. He came out and took care of the nest, stayed briefly to take care of any residual bees that were not in the nest at the time, and then called me the next day to make sure there were no issues. I have not seen any bees since he did the service. I will definitely use his services again if I ever have anymore pest issues.
Kathryn Wilson · June 2018 Read on HomeAdvisor →
Bees had built a nest in an outside wall and were starting to show up in my basement. Troy came to the house within 3 hours and was able to stop the inside intrusion, and eliminate the nest. He was very knowledgeable and we were so happy with him, we will be retaining him for annual pest services.
Greg Droege · August 2014 Read on HomeAdvisor →
We hired them to combat carpenter bees in our garage and the fascia boards of our roof. Service was excellent, prompt, and competent. Troy excelled in educating us. The bees are gone. We are very pleased and would use them again.
Susan Kulp · May 2015 Read on HomeAdvisor →
General pest & rodent control
Bee removal is a single-visit service for most situations. Troy or another Pest Shield technician locates the nest, treats it on-site, stays briefly to handle returning foragers that weren’t present at treatment, and follows up by phone or text the next day to confirm activity has stopped. When you call (301) 829-0060, you reach the office or Troy directly — no dispatcher, no call center routing, no waiting on a national queue. The person you speak with is connected to the person who will be at your home.
Treatment generally does not require opening walls, soffits, or vents. Product is applied through the existing entry point the bees are already using, which carries the active ingredient into the nest as they move in and out. In rare cases where a large honey bee colony has produced significant comb inside a wall, additional steps may be discussed during inspection.
Bee removal carries a seasonal warranty — if bees return to the same treated location during the active season, we come back at no charge. Pest Shield uses EPA-approved products, with eco-friendly options selected for households with children, pets, and pollinator-sensitive landscaping. Application is targeted to the nest rather than broadcast across the property, which keeps treatment focused and minimizes exposure to areas where kids and pets spend time. Free inspections are available before any work is scheduled — call (301) 829-0060 to request one. For broader seasonal pest pressure beyond stinging insects, our pest control in Frederick covers the full range of pests active across the county.
Owner
Founded Pest Shield in 2011 after years as a pest management contractor on U.S. military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. Around 35 years in pest management. Personally handles or leads the majority of service calls.
Pest Management Specialist
Field technician handling residential and commercial service calls across Frederick, Carroll, and Montgomery counties.
Pest Management Specialist
Field technician handling residential and commercial service calls across the service area.
Our Entomologist
Consulting entomologist on species identification, conducive conditions, and treatment strategy for difficult cases.
Pest Shield serves Frederick and the surrounding Frederick County communities — Brunswick, Middletown, Myersville, New Market, Thurmont, Urbana, Walkersville, Emmitsburg, and Woodsboro — from our office in nearby Mt. Airy. Frederick sits at the meeting point of the Monocacy River valley and the Catoctin Mountain foothills, with wooded acreage, agricultural surroundings, and a mix of historic downtown housing and newer subdivisions along I-270 and US-15.
That geography drives consistent bee pressure across property types. Older homes downtown and along Market Street corridors have aging wood soffits, fascia gaps, and porch eaves that bees readily colonize. Newer construction north and east of the city offers vinyl siding seams, exhaust vents, and deck framing as entry points. Wooded lots and agricultural edges keep the regional bee population active from late spring through early fall. Tick and ant activity also peaks during these same warm months, adding to the overall pest pressure Frederick properties face each season.
Identification happens during the inspection. Honey bees are golden-brown and fuzzy and often nest in wall voids with visible comb over time. Bumble bees are larger, rounder, and typically nest in ground cavities or under decking. Wasps and yellow jackets have smoother bodies and build paper nests in soffits, eaves, or wall voids. Treatment approach differs by species, which is why we identify on-site before treating — and why entomologist Jeffrey Allwine is available for sample-based confirmation when field identification isn’t conclusive.
In most cases, yes — but it depends on the nest location, the family situation, and whether anyone in the household has a sting allergy. Bees in an exterior wall void typically stay focused on the exterior entry point, but as a colony expands it can push through drywall, outlets, or ceiling penetrations. If you’re seeing bees indoors, hearing activity through walls, or anyone in the home is allergic, the situation should be addressed promptly. Call (301) 829-0060 and we can usually arrive same-day for active situations.
Same-day arrival is standard for stinging insect calls, including weekends. Troy has responded to Sunday calls within an hour at no additional charge, and after-hours scheduling is available when family safety is a concern. Frederick is within our core service area from our Mt. Airy office, which keeps response times short. Call (301) 829-0060 and we’ll give you an honest answer on arrival timing during the call.
Almost never. Treatment is applied through the existing entry point bees are already using, and the active ingredient is carried into the nest as bees move in and out. The structure stays intact. The exception is rare situations involving large established honey bee colonies with significant comb buildup inside a wall — if that’s what we find during inspection, we’ll explain the options before any work happens.
Yes. We use EPA-approved products, and eco-friendly options are available and routinely selected for homes with children, pets, and pollinator-sensitive landscaping. Bee treatment is targeted directly to the nest entry point rather than broadcast across the yard or interior, which keeps exposure focused on the problem area. The technician will explain what’s being applied and what precautions, if any, are appropriate for your specific situation before treatment begins.
