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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Yes. On December 18, 2024, Washington and federal officials declared the northern giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) eradicated from Washington and the United States after three years without confirmed detections. Officials had found and removed four nests in Whatcom County. The declaration concerns the U.S. infestation; it does not mean the species is gone worldwide.
What officials declared—and what it means
The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced eradication on December 18, 2024. WSDA director Derek Sandison said, “We’re pleased to announce the eradication of the northern giant hornet in Washington state,” in the agency’s December 18, 2024 release.
The announcement followed three years with no confirmed detections in Washington. It is a declaration about the known U.S. infestation, not evidence that northern giant hornets have been eradicated globally. WSDA says the official common name is “northern giant hornet”; “murder hornet” is a familiar media nickname, while “Asian giant hornet” is an older name. WSDA’s hornet information explains its naming and response.
How the hornets were found and removed
The confirmed Washington detections were in Whatcom County, near Blaine. Four nests were found and eradicated between 2020 and 2021. Each was in a cavity in an alder tree.
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| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| August 2019 | Northern giant hornets were first detected in North America in British Columbia, Canada. |
| December 2019 | WSDA confirmed Washington detections near Blaine in Whatcom County. DNA evidence suggested the British Columbia and Washington specimens came from separate introductions, but did not establish how either arrived. |
| October 2020 | WSDA found and eradicated the first Washington nest. |
| August and September 2021 | WSDA found and eradicated three more nests. |
| 2022–2024 | WSDA reported no further Washington detections and continued public and state trapping in Whatcom County through 2024. |
| December 18, 2024 | WSDA and USDA declared the hornet eradicated from Washington and the United States after three years without confirmed detections. |
Public reports helped officials identify hornets, and agency teams used telemetry tags to track live hornets through dense forest to nests, primarily in alder trees. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) says nearly half of confirmed detections came from public reports; WSDA said all nest detections resulted directly or indirectly from public reports. APHIS deputy administrator Mark Davidson described the outcome as a joint effort: “This success demonstrates what’s possible when agencies and communities unite toward a common goal,” USDA APHIS, December 18, 2024.
Was the 2024 Kitsap County sighting confirmed?
No. A resident reported a suspected hornet south of Port Orchard in October 2024, but WSDA did not receive a specimen. Trapping and outreach in the area produced no additional evidence, so officials could not establish a new county record. WSDA said it planned precautionary trapping there in 2025; that planned action is not itself a confirmed detection, and the announcement does not establish its later results.
Why officials were concerned
Northern giant hornets can threaten honey bees, other pollinators, and native insects. WSDA says a hornet can kill an entire honey bee hive in as little as 90 minutes. That is a stated capability and potential risk, not a measured estimate of losses caused by the four Washington nests.
Officials do not know how the hornets reached the region. WSDA lists possibilities such as international container ships, shipped purchases, and travelers, but has not identified a route. DNA evidence suggests the Washington and British Columbia detections represented different introductions; it does not prove which countries or transport routes were involved.
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Document the insect from a safe distance and report the sighting rather than trying to catch or kill it. WSDA says a photograph can make identification easier.
- In Washington, report the sighting through WSDA’s hornet reporting page, email [email protected], or call 1-800-443-6684.
- If you find a specimen, photograph it and place it in a bag in the freezer while you wait for WSDA’s identification response.
- Outside Washington, contact your local agriculture department or invasive-species authority.
Do not handle a suspected hornet or attempt eradication yourself. WSDA cautions that some hornets can sting through typical beekeeping clothing; agency work requires hornet-specific protection.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Could they return?
Eradication means officials had no confirmed detections during the three years before the December 2024 declaration; it cannot guarantee that a new introduction will never occur. WSDA pest program manager Sven Spichiger put the reason for continued vigilance plainly: “They got here once and they could do it again,” WSDA, December 18, 2024. A new suspected sighting still needs verification by the relevant agency.
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