Bat House Information

Should we/could I get a bat house?
Our bat house expert tells us that success is not common. However, you may surely give it a try. The bigger a bat house the better your chances are of attracting bats. Small houses have too large a temperature variation to be comfortable for bats. The larger the house is, the more even the temperature will be since a larger mass of house acts as a heat sink.

Where should a bat house be placed?
A very important question - location, location, location! To be successful, a bat house should be mounted on a building, chimney, or poles, 15 feet or higher. They need to be where they will receive several hours of morning or afternoon sun, and in cooler climates need to be darker colors to help heat the house. Bat houses mounted on poles should have a backboard, similar to a basketball net. Plastic mesh or nylon window screening should cover the entire backboard to ensure a foothold for landing. Bat houses mounted on trees are rarely successful. Be wary of bat houses that seem small, offer no ventilation and do not have screened or grooved surfaces to provide proper foot holds (roughed wood alone is not an adequate surface). If you have already purchased a bat house that you suspect is a poor design, try modifying the house by adding the above recommendations.

What attracts bats? Can bats be purchased?
There is no known method of attracting bats to houses. Naturally, houses placed in areas where bats are known to exist would be more likely to attract bats. It has been found that bat houses located near water are more likely to be occupied. The houses need to be placed within a safe distance from obstacles, providing adequate flight space and protection from aerial predators.
It is NOT legal to buy or sell bats. If it were, bats could not be relocated or introduced into a bat house since they are territorial and would return to where they belonged.
Certain designs available in recent years have a 97% occupancy rate when constructed and installed properly in a good habitat. Check the literature provided by the box manufacturer to ensure that it is of modern design and approved by Bat Conservation International. If you would like plans to build your own small house, [click here]. A source of plentiful food (lots of insects in most areas of No. America) will also help guarantee occupancy.

How long will it take and how can you tell that bats are using the house?
You need to allow at least 2 full summer seasons before making any alterations or moving a bat house to a new location. Bats will be fairly vocal during the day so you should be able to hear them. Another good way to tell is by evidence of droppings below the bat house. Bat droppings (guano) make excellent fertilizer, you may want to move it to your garden!

Which bats most commonly occupy bat houses?
Although there has been reported use by many species, in the United States the most frequently reported species are little brown bats, free-tailed bats, and big brown bats. These are all insect eating bats, a much better alternative to pest control than pesticides!

Can a bat house on my home be dangerous?
Although bats rarely contract rabies, those that are found on the ground are more likely to be sick (or injured) and may bite in self-defense when handled. Whether or not you have a bat house, children should be taught to never handle bats and pets should be vaccinated against rabies. Bat droppings (guano) pose no more of a health threat than the droppings from birds or other mammals. Potted plants placed under bat houses will receive fertilizer straight from the bats, resulting in beautiful plants!

Will predators bother bats living in a bat house?
Bat houses mounted on buildings probably offer the safest location from predators. To prevent animals from climbing, predator guards or tin should always be wrapped around poles that bat houses are mounted on. A pointed or slant roof will also help avoid birds of prey from sitting on top.

Will a bat house interfere with my bird house?
No, birds and bats do not compete for food or space.