Bat House Construction Bats like to roost in dark hot places that have small openings they can crawl into and feel safe. Placing pieces of rough plywood approximately 2 cm (3/4 in) apart and placing it high on a house or barn can attract them. Here are some important bat and bat house facts: A single bat can eat several thousand insects in one night! A single chamber bat house can attract up to 50 bats. A multi-layered one like the one shown in the photo can house many more. Bats can contract rabies and have various microorganisms in their droppings that should be avoided. A bat should never be handled with bare hands. These are general guidelines for any wild mammal. There are many misconceptions about bats that cause much fear, but they are of no greater threat to human health than a bird or other mammal. Bats may not be attracted to your bat house if you are not with 1-2 km (1-1.5 miles) from water, you live in an area where pesticide use is common, or where development has drastically reduced their insect food supply. Cross-section: Cross-section of bat house showing 2 cm (3/4 in.) spaces for the bats to crawl into. Construction: Materials needed: Rough plywood (preferably 2 cm (3/4 inch) Pine board 2.5 x 6.5 cm (1 x 2 inch) Caulking Screws 5 cm (2 inch) Placement: Bats like warmth, so place the bat house facing the south where it will receive ample sumplight. In Northern states and provinces, paint the box black or any other dark colour so it absorbs as much light as possible. Place the bat house at least 3.7-4.7 metres (12-15 feet) above the ground. A bat house should not be placed in an area children or pets can access it. Once in their roost, they should not be disturbed. (Side) Two tier bat house on chimney placed approximately 5.5 m. (15 feet) off of the ground The following two bat species are most commonly found in bat houses in North-Eastern North America: Little Brown Bat The little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus, is found all over North America. The species has its highest concentration in the Northern United States, Southern Canada and Southern Alaska. In the summer, the bat colonies prefer a hot area with high temperatures. The colonies gather in an attic, behind siding or under bridges. Colonies thrive near water sources because of the insects available there. When hibernating, little brown bats find an area with high humidity and where the temperature stays a few degrees above freezing. Little Brown Bats are insectivores. Food sources include gnats, beetles, crane flies, wasps and moths. They forage mainly near bodies of water. Big Brown Bat The big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus, ranges from southern Canada, through temperate North America, down through Central America and South America. The Big brown bat inhabits cities, towns, and rural areas, but is not commonly found in heavily forested regions. It has been found to take up residence in barns, silos, attics, crawl spaces, and churches. It eats insects that it catches while flying. Big brown bats can survive up to 20 years in the wild but the males live longer than females. Most big brown bats do not survive their first winter season, as they do not store enough fat to make it through their hibernation period.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 10:32:16 +0000
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