Bat Boxes

BAT BOXES

Here are some important points for success in Bat House design and placement:

• Build or buy a house which is at least 24” tall x 16” wide x 4”deep and has a roughened wood (no screen or fabric) landing platform extending below the house of 3 to 6 inches.

• The house can be single chambered or multi-chambered, but chambers should be a minimum of 1” wide - a variety is good to provide for the needs of different species.

• Moisture in the box is a major cause for bats not to use the box. The seams of the bat box should be caulked even if you purchase the box. The idea is to create a tight micro-climate inside the bat box capable of trapping the heat captured during the day and generated by the bats. The box should be tight enough that you could turn it upside down and fill it with water.
  

• Avoid placing the box above doors, windows, walkways because guano (bat feces) will drop from the box.
  

• Place the house 15 to 20 feet high where predictors cannot gain access.

• Keep the area around the entrance clear of obstructions for 15 feet - vertically and horizontally so the bats can get up to speed as they drop out of the house without crashing into obstructions. Bats must be able to drop from the bottom of the box and then fly. They are not like birds that can take off from the ground. They must drop and fly.

• Place the box where it can get 6-8 hours of sunlight per day, morning or evening sun is best. Avoid direct mid day sun that can cause the box to get too hot. Also avoid shady, cool areas which can cause the box to stay too cool.

• Avoid areas near bright lights or shiny surfaces that can reflect light into the box.

• Please be patient after you put up your Bat Box - it can take some time for bats to find you. If a season passes and you haven't become a chosen bat host, recheck the guidelines above, and consider modifying the box to better conform.