#bat house

[crookedjackdaw]

more of this owl house x wwdits au

[b3yondthewall]

[5-and-a-half-acres]

Close up of a bat climbing into a bat house

[bwabbitv3s]

Bat Houses

Plans for Bat houses! Want to help out our flying little friends by building them a home. Here are some wildlife approved plans that are suitable to hosting roosting bats.

Four Chambered Nursery Bat House

Rocket Box Bat House

Looking to really dig into bat house then these are two great resources on bats houses in Canada and the US.

Bat House Builders Handybook

Best Management Practices for the Use of Bat Houses in the US and Canada

Quick tips on choosing a ready made bat house

First off it needs to be the right size. The minimum size a bat house needs to be to keep the temperatures inside stable enough for bats to live in it is 24" x 16" (60cm x 40cm). Smaller than that and it won't retain enough thermal mass to stay stable. Leading to bats getting too cold or too hot to use it long term. This is especially important if you live in a hot climate as bat houses that get too hot in summer can seriously harm baby bats!

Next is avoid any house that has mesh of any kind inside the bat house to provide grip or a rough surface for bats to cling too. The mess is an entanglement risk and as it degrades it becomes more dangerous over time. If you have a house with mesh or that is all that is available to you remove the mesh from the house.

All About Bat Houses

[suicidalgamergirl]

A scene from my fic, Weekends at Nessie’s

Cute little Batstarion.

[the-spooky-mind-of-spiderwish]

Bat shack, baby

[flittermousing]

via batbnb on Instagram

[countessravengrey]

We need bats, y'all. Take care of our winged friends. And get a bat house. They're awesome.

Austin Batworks

I know this maker personally, and not only does she make quality, certified bat houses for all kinds of climates, but she also is an amazingly cool person.

perhaps some will disagree, but i think the world got worse when we changed the colour of the night

[ecolifely]

How to Build Homemade Bat Houses to Attract Bats to Your Yard (2024)

If you're looking to make your yard more eco-friendly and support local wildlife, building a homemade bat house is an excellent project to consider. Bats are fantastic natural pest controllers, consuming thousands of insects every night, which can significantly reduce the number of mosquitoes and garden pests around your home.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about building a bat house, from materials to placement, and how to attract bats to make it their new home.

Why Build a Bat House?

Bats are vital to the health of our ecosystems, yet their populations are declining due to habitat loss, human disturbances, and disease. Building a bat house provides these helpful creatures with a safe space to roost and raise their young. In return, you benefit from having fewer insects and pests in your yard without the need for harmful chemicals.

Want to dive deeper into the benefits of homemade bat houses? Check out this great guide on homemade bat houses.

Materials You’ll Need

Before you get started, gather the following materials:

Cedar or Plywood: These woods are durable and weather-resistant.

Mesh or Screen: To provide bats something to cling to inside the house.

Non-toxic Paint or Stain: Bats are sensitive to chemicals, so choose eco-friendly options.

Screws or Nails: For assembling the bat house.

Caulking: To seal the house and make it weatherproof.

How to Build a Homemade Bat House

1. Cut the Wood

Begin by cutting the wood to the appropriate size. A typical bat house should be around 20 inches tall and 14 inches wide, which provides enough space for multiple bats to roost comfortably.

2. Prepare the Interior

Bats need a textured surface to cling to. Attach mesh or screening to the inside back panel of the house or etch shallow grooves into the wood.

3. Assemble the House

Attach the sides and back panels together using screws or nails. Make sure to leave a small ventilation gap (about 1/2 inch) at the bottom of the house.

4. Paint and Weatherproof

Bats prefer warm, dark spaces, so paint the house in a dark color using non-toxic paint or stain. This will also help protect the house from the elements.

5. Install the Bat House

The location of your bat house is crucial. Mount it at least 10-15 feet off the ground in a place that gets plenty of sunlight. Ideally, the house should receive 6-8 hours of sunlight per day. Avoid placing it near artificial lights, as bats prefer dark, quiet areas.

Best Places to Install a Bat House

Bats are more likely to roost in your bat house if it is installed in the right location. Here are some tips:

Height: Place the bat house at least 10 feet above the ground.

Sun Exposure: Bats love warmth, so ensure the house is installed in a spot that gets 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.

Away from Disturbances: Keep it away from noisy, busy areas.

Near Water: If possible, install the house near a water source like a pond or stream. Bats tend to roost near water.

How to Attract Bats to Your Homemade Bat House

Once you've built and installed your bat house, the next step is attracting bats to move in. Here are a few ways to make your yard more bat-friendly:

Limit Pesticides: Avoid using pesticides in your yard. Bats rely on insects for food, and pesticides can both reduce their food source and harm the bats themselves.

Provide Water: Having a nearby water source like a small pond or birdbath can increase the chances of bats choosing your bat house.

Be Patient: It may take some time for bats to find and move into your bat house. In some cases, it can take a year or more, but persistence pays off.

For more tips and a complete breakdown of the benefits of homemade bat houses, check out this article on homemade bat houses.

Maintaining Your Bat House

Once your bat house is installed and bats have moved in, there is minimal maintenance required. However, you should inspect the house once a year, preferably during the winter when bats are less active. Look for any signs of wear, and repaint or re-seal it if necessary to ensure the bats remain safe and comfortable.

Also, check for wasp or insect nests and remove them as they can deter bats from roosting.

Conclusion

Building a homemade bat house is a fun, eco-friendly project that supports wildlife conservation and benefits your garden. Bats are essential for controlling insect populations, and by providing them with a safe place to live, you can enjoy a more balanced and natural environment.

For more detailed information on building bat houses and ensuring their success, visit this guide on homemade bat houses.

[rockymountainqueen2]

From this -

This post is mostly for those who don't want to have to click on the link in order to read the entirety of The Owl House's series bible.

[baihujun]

A Tim for @mlim8

[batfamhastwitter]

Part 35! I love bats so much guys

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[sugurugetos]

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON: 2.03 (2024)

[5-and-a-half-acres]

Such wiggly ears

[bwabbitv3s]

Get Ready for Bat Week!

It is that time again this year, International Bat Week! The lead up to Halloween is the week dedicated to the amazing role of bats. Wonderful little pollinators, insect eaters, and seed spreaders that fly through the air. Mighty insect eaters that can eat half their weight in insects each night. The key pollinators for species of plants like in the cactus and agave family. Their far traveling flights allowing them to spread the seeds of fruit they eats far and wide.

It is the time to help spread awareness of their role in the ecosystem, dispel misconceptions, and take part in conservation. This is also one of the best times to help out the local bats in your area whale they are in the spotlight of the spooky season. My plan for this week is to try and relocate my bat house in its new better location. It hinges on if the wasps have finally gone as they have a nest in the location I want to use and am waiting for them to finish their lifecycle in the fall.

Things you can do to help Bats

Learn about Bats! People are afraid of things they don't know, understand, or have misconceptions of. Taking the time to learn about them yourself or teach others just how cool they are. Take the fear away and bring the awe to these amazing animals.

If you live in the states take part in the some of these cool Bat Week projects. There are a lot of useful and cool things they offer for free. Why not see if you can get a bat mural done? How about seeing if you can organize or take a bat walk. Like me if you live in Canada there are some cool Canadian resources you can check out. For everyone else around the world I will point you to Bat Conservation International to start your search on what you can do in your area to help bats.

Build or install a bat house at your home or on your property. Helping to provide more suitable roosts for bats is a huge help for bats. As many of the natural places they use to roost can be rare in our modern landscaping. Providing them a bat house is also a great way to move them somewhere you want them if they have unfortunately found a way where it is not safe for them to be like in an attic or unstable building set for removal.

If you don't have time to do any of these things no worry we are all busy. Instead just by reading this post we have helped spread awareness about bats. Go and spread the word, share this post, take part if you can. If not? Well you made it to the end of this post. Thank you for learning more about bats.

[turquoisespace35]

Joen's palisman (2/2)

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