Bat houses aren’t likely to discourage bats from roosting in nearby buildings. There is no clear evidence that their installation will reduce insects.
If you chose to put up a bat house, make sure it is in an area that has minimal disturbance from people and animals. Sometimes sick bats fall out of the roost where children and household pets easily can pick them up.
Here are some guidelines when constructing and installing a bat house:
1) Use rough-sided wood on the interior of the house. Horizontally groove the interior surface for toe holds.
2) Roosting chambers should be 1/2 to 1 inch wide; chambers larger than 1 inch invite wasps.
3) Caulk outside seams to limit air2ow.
4) Use roofing felt (tar paper) or dark roof shingles on top and 6 inches down the sides to increase inside temperatures; a 90°F inside day round temperature is ideal.
5) Try painting the boxes black, and rubbing bat guano inside and around the bat box to create a warmer day round temperature and to attract bats.
6) Cats eat bats. Install bat houses at least 10 feet above ground with an eastern or northern exposure.
7) Bats prefer houses that get morning sun and afternoon shade.
8) Protect the house from prevailing winds, if possible, and provide an unobstructed approach for bats.
Attaching bat houses on the sides of buildings usually have the greatest success. Be careful, because bat droppings will accumulate below. Bat houses on poles in open areas, or trees sometimes work but its less common. Installing bat houses before March improves the chance of occupancy. It is not unusual for bat houses to remain unoccupied for a year or more.
It is also important to know that bats prefer houses that are within 1/4 mile of water.
Good luck and happy batting!
You must log in to post a comment.