07/16/2026
A group of Great Black Wasps led to an unexpected discovery in the parking lot at the Jackson County Jail and Courthouse.
The wasps were noticed first near a section of the parking lot. A sinkhole later formed in the same area, leading officials to investigate further. Rich Poff explained that a broken underground pipe was then discovered beneath the pavement.
Remnants of the old Jackson County jail could also be seen inside the hole.
Great Black Wasps are native to Wisconsin and much of North America. Although several may nest in the same area, they are solitary insects, with each female digging her own underground burrow. They are generally not aggressive and are considered beneficial, although not in this case, because they pollinate flowers and hunt insects such as katydids to feed their young.
Officials have not confirmed that the wasps caused the sinkhole.
Written by Elaina Sanders - Editor
