What attracts hornets to my yard?

What attracts hornets to your yard includes food sources, shelter for nesting, and favorable environmental conditions that provide sugars, proteins, and nesting sites, especially in late summer when colonies are large and seeking sugars. Food attractants include sweet foods and drinks left outdoors like soda, juice, fruits, especially overripe fruits that ferment, and sugary substances at picnics and barbecues, as hornets seek sugars in late summer when larvae that produce sugary secretion mature and leave, so workers search for sugars. Protein sources like meat, pet food left outdoors, and insects that are prey attract hornets that hunt pest insects like caterpillars and flies to feed larvae. Trash cans with food scraps and compost piles attract hornets. Shelter attractants include trees, shrubs, under eaves, attics, and wall cavities that provide nesting sites, as hornets build large enclosed paper nests, and wood piles, leaf litter, and debris provide habitat. Water sources like pet water bowls, bird baths, and leaky hoses attract hornets seeking water. Bright floral clothing and strong perfumes can attract hornets foraging. To reduce attraction, keep food and sweet drinks covered outdoors, seal trash cans with tight lids, clean up overripe fruits and spills, keep compost covered, seal cracks around windows and doors, trim vegetation and remove debris near house, and avoid wearing strong perfumes outdoors, and if nest is near home, contact professional pest control for safe removal.