Indiana man walks by Ford Explorer. Then he sees a massive nest built right on the back door: ‘I would not touch that Ford’

When a person's job involves the outdoors, there's plenty of interesting things to see. This can range from people watching to enjoying the weather. Occasionally, though, something can happen that requires a second glance. For one landscaper, a gigantic nest attached to his client's Ford Explorer needed closer examination.

Indiana-based landscaper Shiesty Striper (@shiesty_striper) posts his striping work on LawnTok. But a video he posted on July 31 deviates from the usual routine.

“Y'all wanna see the craziest [expletive] I've seen in my life?” he whispers, filming his feet walking on the pavement. Then, he stops in his tracks to unveil a white Ford Explorer parked in front of his client's home, a gray object protruding out of the back. When he zooms in on the back, he reveals to over 30,000 viewers a giant, upside-down, pear-shaped nest hanging out of the trunk handle.

“Bro,” he says in utter shock.

“Careful! Don't get stung,” the client warns in the background, earning a chuckle from the content creator.

Now, Shiesty Striper ponders an important question: “How does this even happen?”

Viewers tell jokes

While the sight baffled the content creator, many of his viewers weren't exactly fazed. Instead, they seized the opportunity to crack jokes about the takeover.

“car has built In anti theft,” one viewer quipped.

“Those wasps built themselves [an] RV,” a second jested.

“I take it that's not the grocery getter,” a third remarked.

In the comment section, the creator shared that his client's vehicle “ain't moved in [two] years.”

What kind of nest could this be?

Another viewer suggested what type of insect resides in that nest: “Bald face hornets will build their nest practically anywhere. Also be careful when treating the nest, they love aiming for your face when in attack mode.”

Upon a quick search, it seems to check out. The queens who have survived the winter seem to build a nest wherever they deem suitable, like the client's Ford Explorer. After the fertilized queen finds a protected space, she uses wood fibers and saliva to create a gray, paper nest to lay eggs in, according to Penn State. Once the larvae hatch, the colony becomes bustling with activity as the insects work to maintain it. In fact, each colony typically contains hundreds of hornets. Nests can grow to the size of a basketball.

Bald-faced hornets are generally mild and indifferent toward humans. On the other hand, they can become aggressive if they or their nest is threatened. Whenever these insects feel provoked in any way, shape, or form, they will viciously strike the perceived aggressor by swarming and stinging them. What makes these insects even more dangerous is that they have a poisonous spray and prefer releasing it in the “aggressor's” face, which can cause temporary blindness, per Sage Pest Control. Even being within a certain proximity (about a few feet) can trigger an attack.

@shiesty_striper Like how does this even happen #wasp #bee #hive #fyp #lawntok ♬ original sound – THE SHIESTY STRIPER

How to get rid of a bald-faced hornet's nest

Typically, removing a bald-faced hornet's nest is inadvisable because they serve as nature's personal pest control. However, it can be necessary in certain situations. The best course of action is to contact pest control. But for anyone who's bold, Iowa State University has a DIY method.

Before getting started, the university has a few prerequisites. Anyone trying to remove a bald-faced hornet nest should wait until night to approach, as that is when they're least active. They should also wear protective clothing such as “a thick jacket, long pants tucked into socks, gloves, and a hat.” In advance, it's worth buying an insecticide aerosol spray.

After getting all of the required gear, a person should use their specialized insecticide aerosol spray, spraying the opening first and then thoroughly covering the nest. Anyone trying to exterminate a nest should wait a couple of days until all of the hornets are dead to safely remove the nest.

Shiesty Striper declined to comment.