We used to get nests around the house a lot growing up. When I was about 6 we had one that was at least the size of a basketball way up in a tree, and rather than wait for it to randomly fall into the yard and kill me my dad hoisted a jug of gasoline up at the end of a long stick and doused it, and then hoisted up a burning rag. PHWUMP the whole thing went up like sun and the poor buggers had no chance.

Many years later we had a nest of particularly pissed off yellerjackets build a nest in our stonewall and they went after my cat one day. She was fine in the end, just a swollen cheek, but I fucking destroyed those motherfuckers with pickerel.

Lit it, shoved it in the hole, and dropped a big rock on top. Always have additional rocks on hand to block any alternative exits if they appear. I got stung on the arm but literally only like 3 hornets escaped and the rest of them fucking choked. The ants were extricating their baby larva out of the nest and carrying them off for the next two days