What common underground nesting site, often associated with burrowing mammals, is the preferred location for the Eastern Yellowjacket (*Vespula maculifrons*)?

Abandoned mammal burrows

The Eastern Yellowjacket (*Vespula maculifrons*) is a native species whose primary habitat preference centers on subterranean cavities. These insects frequently exploit existing holes in the ground that were originally created by other animals, such as the tunnels left behind by animals like gophers or voles. The colony utilizes this pre-existing space as the foundation for building its complex paper nest structure underground. Although the visible entrance might look like a small, unremarkable hole, the enclosed paper structure inside can expand considerably, sometimes reaching the dimensions of a basketball by late summer, providing crucial protection for the developing population.