Hi Martha- Thanks for your question and great picture of a yellow jacket, probably a queen looking for a place to overwinter. The nest will die out and the fertile queen will start a new one next spring. I'll attach an article with more information, but basically they are good insects we don't want anywhere near us (they do sting when disturbed).

If you can get a cup over the yellow jacket and then slide a paper underneath, you can release it outdoors. Most people will squash or vacuum them up as they are certainly not endangered and don't belong in the house. They are scavengers who help keep our world clear of pests and other detritus, but don't feel bad about removing a couple of them.

https://solvepestproblems.oregonstate.edu/insects-spiders/yellowjackets-wasps

Thanks again for a great picture,