Bat boxes

[4wanderingeyes]

Does anyone put up bat boxes to encourage bats to stay in the area, for bug control? I use to have about 10 bats in the area every evening, now there arent any. I was just trying to reduce bugs a bit, and if I can attract a few bug eaters, I would welcome all the help they would give.

 

[Catscratch]

I really wanted to put up bat boxes. I spent some time working with a couple of local biologists who maintained several of them. They told me it was very rare that the boxes became colonized and that bats were difficult. They weren't against the effort but freely said success was unlikely. Maybe some research in your local will prove different.

I returned my efforts to birds; Bluebird boxes, Purple Martins, Barn Swallows, etc. I still would like to put a bat box up though...

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[Peeps]

I bought one a few years ago but I don’t think it has been used.

 

[chummer]

I have a couple up for a few years, never seen a bat go near them

 

[ssesox]

I bought one from a guy at a farmers market. Crazy dude told me to piss on the box, that would help attract bats, So off course I did. Whose crazy? He was quite the salesman. I've never had a bat near the the thing in 5-8 years that I have had it.

 

[Buckly]

I try to discourage bats anywhere near my house. They can live elsewhere. I know several people that have bat boxes around their houses. The piles of guano under them is disgusting. The smell is so intense it’s not worth it.

 

[Northbound]

I've seen too many houses with bat guano in the attics to ever consider inviting them closer. I think they're cool to watch just like wolves are cool to watch, just prefer no where near my property.

I've woken many of them up as they love to live in loose tyvek on new buildings before siding is installed

 

[cavey]

White nose syndrome - fungal infection is wiping them out. I see zero bats now, 5 years ago I had dozens flying around my pond at night... I dont think you need to worry about building any bat houses Im guessing you have the same issue - zero bats.

 

[Tree Spud]

Does anyone put up bat boxes to encourage bats to stay in the area, for bug control? I use to have about 10 bats in the area every evening, now there arent any. I was just trying to reduce bugs a bit, and if I can attract a few bug eaters, I would welcome all the help they would give.

The bat house should face south or southeast as they want that morning to afternoon sun to warm them. Like fruit trees they want 6-8 hours of sun. Place the bat house up high, 12'-20'. Bats don't just start flying, they drop first then start to fly.

If you have a drive or yard light that you can leave on at night, the insects draw the bats.

They also need water so placing the bat house near a pond or stream is important. On my small pier on my pond I have a solar yard light on a dock post facing over the water. The insects feed the fish and bats swoop in for a bite also.

They'll eat 500-1000 insects a night so they are a good balance in the ecosystem.

Some good info here ...
Bat Conservation

 

[Telemark]

We have zillions of bats at our place in Ontario. They have bat boxes all up and down the Bruce peninsula. Here's a link that has pmans for bat boxes

http://bpbo.ca/other-reports/bat-research-on-bruce-peninsula-at-chrs/

 

[Iowa_Dave]

I bought one from a guy at a farmers market. Crazy dude told me to piss on the box, that would help attract bats, So off course I did. Whose crazy? He was quite the salesman. I've never had a bat near the the thing in 5-8 years that I have had it.

A few years ago I sold bat boxes to people at farmer's markets...I couldn't believe some of those city slickers fell for it and paid me full price. If that wasn't funny enough...I acted a little crazy and told him to pee on it to make it work right...and he believed me! After he left my booth with the rickety bat box under his arm...my wife and I laughed and laughed. Some people. :) :)

OK, seriously...I made that up. I hope no real offense was taken, just trying to have some fun. :) I am interested in this subject though and have thought about putting one up myself...but not peeing on it. :) :)

 

[Tamarack]

Got them in an old barn and shed here..no (human) house nearby. Maybe build a mini-barn with open windows etc. I'm sorta joking but do wonder if something bigger makes more sense.

Never understood the placing them so they get so much sun though. Yet you read that everywhere. They love caves. Caves aren't in the sun. https://www.scienceabc.com/nature/animals/why-do-bats-like-to-live-in-caves.html

Caves provide optimal humidity that bats require, as well as a low, stable temperature.

As their temperature drops, they enter a torpor state, in which their metabolism slows down. By reducing their biological activity and not maintaining a warm body temperature, bats conserve energy. This is important, as flying all night is extremely hard work.

 

[Buckly]

I don’t know about the low stable temperature. My attic has to be 110 and they seem to love it up there. Then in the winter they burrow down in the insulation to get up against the warm ceiling.

 

[Tamarack]

I think it's what is optimal/what they'd prefer. Low stable temperature that they actually warm up a bit together. There's not much else around here besides the barn and shed and those aren't exactly cool on hot days either ..and then whatever they find in the woods. I've seen them under our wooden bridges that cross the creek, too.

 

[Tamarack]

In artificial roost comparison, bats show preference for rocket box style

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?type=printable&id=10.1371/journal.pone.0205701