Hello! I have a question about yellow jackets. Are they calmer in autumn? I’ve had one land on me twice, and it was late October both times. Neither me or the wasp were harmed either time. (I live in Ohio if you need the location.)
Actually, they're known to seem more aggressive in fall because of the large amount of wasps born that summer and the dwindling amount of food available as weather turns colder. They may turn to human sources to find food and people can often see that behavior as aggressive. If the temp is lower, though, they may be sluggish. Either way, they have no reason to attack/sting you unless you're threatening their nest. It's not unusual to have a non-threatening counter with a lone wasp or two! That's true any time of year, though.