- (301) 829-0060
- Mt. Airy, MD
- info@pestshieldinc.com
Pest Shield, Inc. has handled stinging insect removal across Frederick County since 2011, with owner Troy Yowell personally named in the majority of the company’s hornet and yellow jacket reviews. Licensed by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA #30263) and backed by over 75 years of combined pest management experience across the team, Pest Shield responds to active hornet nests the same day in most cases — including Sundays, at no extra charge. The company holds a 5.0 rating across 338+ reviews on Google and HomeAdvisor, with dozens specifically documenting stinging insect work resolved in a single visit.
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 New Market homeowners don’t discover a hornet nest until late summer — and that timing matters. By August and September, colonies have been building since spring and are at their largest, with worker populations that can number in the hundreds. Workers become noticeably more defensive as the season peaks, which is why a nest that seemed manageable in June can feel genuinely dangerous by Labor Day.
Hornets in Central Maryland typically nest in locations that aren’t obvious until the colony is well established. If you’re seeing increased activity around your roofline, eaves, or a particular corner of your yard, the nest is likely nearby — even if you can’t spot it directly.
Both species will defend their nests aggressively when disturbed, and neither gives much warning before stinging. For households with children, pets, or anyone with a known sting allergy, a nest in or near a frequently used area of the yard is a situation that warrants a professional call rather than a DIY attempt — particularly once the colony has reached late-summer size.
60+ years of combined experience. Tell us what you’re seeing — we’ll come look, no obligation.
Pest shield, Troy Yowell and the entire pest shield staff provided exceptional service! We had a yellow jacket nest in the wall. Troy located it and fixed the problem in one efficient session. It was a difficult job but he made it easy for us. He is extremely responsive and helpful about answering my questions by text. If we ever have a pest problem again my first call will be to pest shield.
Virginia Lipton · September 2023 Read on Google →
My wife and I discovered a yellow jackets nest in our siding had moved inside our bedroom wall. Bees were starting to come into the bedroom through the baseboards and window. We called a few large companies first who tried to sell us on an initial price followed by 7 months of service. We’re glad we called Troy at Pest Shield. He gave us a low quote and even stood by it after noticing we had one of the larger nests he had come across this year. Troy was professional going over everything he was going to do while providing us options. We are no longer hearing bees in the wall and the outside activity has dwindled to a bee here or there. Nothing is choosing to go back where Troy sprayed. We really appreciate being bee free again.
djsportbike · August 2023 Read on Google →
Rob came to our house to take care of a European Hornet nest in our chimney. He explained what he was going to do, and took care of the problem quickly. We will surely use Pest Shield the next time we have a problem.
David Boteler · September 2023 Read on Google →
General pest & rodent control
When you call Pest Shield about a hornet nest, Troy or a technician assesses the situation over the phone and schedules accordingly. For active nests near living areas or where a family member has a sting allergy, same-day service is the norm. Troy has documented experience locating nests in the places they’re hardest to reach — inside wall voids, in chimney chases, behind siding, and in concealed soffit spaces — and treating them on-site in a single visit. He stays briefly after treatment to address returning workers that weren’t present at the nest when he arrived, then follows up by phone or text the next day to confirm the nest is inactive.
One treatment is typically all that’s needed. Pest Shield backs hornet removal with a seasonal warranty — if activity returns at the treated site within the season, they come back at no charge. There’s no pressure to enroll in an ongoing pest protection in New Market plan; for most hornet situations, a single visit resolves the problem completely. Treatment products are EPA-approved and the process has been documented as eco-friendly; Troy confirms the treated area is safe for family and pets before he leaves the property.
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.
New Market sits near the Frederick County and Carroll County line along the US-40 corridor, roughly midway between Frederick and Mount Airy. The town’s semi-rural residential character — wooded lots, mature tree lines, older homes with wood siding and detached outbuildings — creates consistent conditions for hornet nesting from late spring through early fall. Pest Shield serves New Market as part of its Frederick County coverage area, with the office based in Mount Airy just a few miles east on US-40.
Properties in and around New Market frequently back up to wooded edges and overgrown hedgerows, which are prime habitat for bald-faced hornet aerial nests and European hornet tree-cavity colonies. Older homes with wood fascia, unscreened soffit vents, and gaps around chimney chases give European hornets the enclosed cavities they prefer. Late August through October is the critical window — colonies are at peak size and worker aggression is highest — which is when the majority of Frederick County hornet calls come in.
Same-day service is standard for active hornet nests, particularly when the nest is near a living area or a family member has a sting allergy. Troy has been documented arriving within a few hours of a morning call, and Sunday service at no extra charge is confirmed across multiple reviews. Call (301) 829-0060 and describe the situation — Troy will schedule based on urgency.
One treatment is typically sufficient. Troy treats the nest and stays to address returning foragers that weren’t present during initial treatment — a step that matters for complete resolution. Pest Shield backs hornet removal with a seasonal warranty: if activity returns at the treated site within the season, they return at no charge. Hornets do not reuse old nests the following year, so a treated nest site is not a recurring problem.
Pest Shield uses EPA-approved products and an eco-friendly treatment process documented across multiple reviews. Troy confirms the treated area is safe for family and pets before leaving the property. He also advises on any specific precautions based on nest location — for example, timing re-entry to a treated area near a deck or entry point. If you have specific concerns about a household member with sensitivities, mention it when you call.
Bald-faced hornets build large, gray, papery aerial nests — often football-to-basketball size — attached to tree branches, soffits, or overhangs. European hornets nest inside enclosed cavities (wall voids, chimney chases, hollow trees) and are larger and brownish-yellow rather than black and white. Yellow jackets typically nest underground or inside wall voids and are smaller. If you’re not sure what you have, describe the location and activity to Troy when you call — field identification is straightforward for stinging insects, and Pest Shield has an entomologist on staff for any cases that need species-level confirmation.
Yes. Concealed nests in wall voids, chimney areas, and behind siding are among the most common situations Pest Shield handles. Troy locates the nest entry point, assesses access, and treats on-site — reviews document successful removal from chimney chases, bedroom walls, exhaust fan vents, and gas fireplace bump-outs. Difficult access does not require a return visit in most cases; Troy arrives prepared to treat wherever the nest is located.
