Bat House

[Hook#3287]

To stave off winter blues and to maybe help with local insect control, I decided to build some bat houses.

I saw one on a barn locally, talked with the property owner, took some pictures and refined a plan for a 3 chamber unit.

A buddy of mine owns a portable saw mill and has a lot of 1" thick pine planks he can't use.  He's been just pushing them over his bank to get rid of them, so I liberated several.

I repurposed some wood pallets also, so I paid $00.00 for the wood.

I bought a tube of caulk, some black solid water based stain (around $50.00 gal but I used about $2.50 worth) and some metal brackets.

Everything else I had hanging around the house.

Out of pocket about $15.00.

Going to wait till end of Feb - middle of March, to install it on my house and hope for the best.

It could take a couple of years (or never) for bats to take up residence, but I plan on making more and setting them up on different properties locally.

Bats are awesome creatures and the more I learned about them, the more I wanted to help them out.

If you enjoy tequila, which I personally don't but obviously millions do, then you should thank the bats in Mexico.

[f6john]

Insect control?

[Valker]

Insect control?

They eat zillions of mosquitoes and other small flying insects. When they "try to get in your hair", they are just flying near you to get the hovering bugs that you attract.

[carolinarider09]

When we had our property cleared (well parts of it) and the forest thinned, we also got to keep some 16 foot long 1" x 10" pine boards.  They are sitting next to my workshop just waiting for some project. 

This might work.  do you have more information on the dimensions and design? 

[Hook#3287]

This might work.  do you have more information on the dimensions and design?

I did this as a proto type.  Of course I didn't write it all down and what plans I did do, I modified as I went.

I'll put something together soon and post it here.

[RP#62]

Hope it works out.  Reminds me of old Fl Keys lore.  When we lived in the keys it was still there, on Sugarloaf key.  The Bat Tower.



It was built in 1929 to help control the mosquito population.  They build the tower, populated it with bats and waited.  Unfortunately, the local rodent population found that the corralled bats were an easy meal and they ate all the bats.  So, they put metal rodent guards on the legs of the tower and repopulated it with bats.  It worked great until they had some high winds and it rattled the rodent guards so much that all the racket scared all the bats off and they never came back.  As of the 70's the tower was still there, but I think it eventually met its demise by hurricane.

-RP

[Valker]

YouTube has many, many videos on building these. They are available in many places commercially also.

[Hook#3287]

That Bat Tower is cool, to bad it didn't take long term.  Bats are finicky.

There is a ton of info available online and at YouTube.

[Jess from VA]

Hope it works out.  Reminds me of old Fl Keys lore.  We we lived in the keys it was still there, on Sugarloaf key.  The Bat Tower.




-RP

Awesome.  

I'd like one of those, but it's a bit large for my backyard, and my neighbors would probably complain.

And the County wouldn't have any sense of humor about it at all. 

[GiG]

We have some hanging around the house, we love them and even have given them names, they are so familiar! And so fun to watch. One got inside the house on the fireplace while watching teevee, so I grabbed him and put him outside.
I’ve installed bat houses around the property but they are hard to train. Mosquitoes are rampant here and the bats try to get in Theresa’s Big hair when their favorite Adam West program is not on…

[f6john]

I have to depend on barn swallows but they can be messy!

[The emperor has no clothes]

That Bat Tower is cool, to bad it didn't take long term.  Bats are finicky.

There is a ton of info available online and at YouTube.

Are you still raising bees also ? Do the bats clean up on them ?

[GiG]

I have to depend on barn swallows but they can be messy!

yeah, we got them too, they crazy, be attacking me on the lawn mower! It’s scary but I don’t think one ever got me, are they dangerous? Like to keep mine eyes - not sure how dangerous they can be, maybe train the bats to attack the killer swallows? Got the Purple Martins too (similar but different I think) and they also are swoopy.

[f6john]

I have to depend on barn swallows but they can be messy!

yeah, we got them too, they crazy, be attacking me on the lawn mower! It’s scary but I don’t think one ever got me, are they dangerous? Like to keep mine eyes - not sure how dangerous they can be, maybe train the bats to attack the killer swallows? Got the Purple Martins too (similar but different I think) and they also are swoopy.

They’re not going for you, you’re stirring up the insects as you mow. They are big on many of the same delicacies as bats.

[GiG]

That sounds logical, thanks for info ! Bats are also swooping and diving, lots of flying bugs here, you name it,  we named the one bat “Fat Boy” he looks too rotund to fly! Lotsa skeeters!

[Avanti]

When swallows or bats swoop down near you all you need to do is swing an arm up and they will fly high over or wide around you. 

[LadyDraco]

To stave off winter blues and to maybe help with local insect control, I decided to build some bat houses.

I saw one on a barn locally, talked with the property owner, took some pictures and refined a plan for a 3 chamber unit.

A buddy of mine owns a portable saw mill and has a lot of 1" thick pine planks he can't use.  He's been just pushing them over his bank to get rid of them, so I liberated several.

I repurposed some wood pallets also, so I paid $00.00 for the wood.

I bought a tube of caulk, some black solid water based stain (around $50.00 gal but I used about $2.50 worth) and some metal brackets.

Everything else I had hanging around the house.

Out of pocket about $15.00.

Going to wait till end of Feb - middle of March, to install it on my house and hope for the best.

It could take a couple of years (or never) for bats to take up residence, but I plan on making more and setting them up on different properties locally.

Bats are awesome creatures and the more I learned about them, the more I wanted to help them out.

If you enjoy tequila, which I personally don't but obviously millions do, then you should thank the bats in Mexico.

Looks  good...  Yeah ya  have  to keep the  Bats  happy

[Rams]

When we first moved to rural Hattiesburg, we had bats every night flying around our property.   Then we did the home renovation and the bats left.   I'm assuming the daily noise drove them off.

Rams

[Challenger]

We had several bats trying to set up residence behind our shutters. Wouldn't have known except for the guano all over the patio. Tried screen wire first and finally just removed that shutter.
Don't mind the bats, but man do they crap alot

[John Schmidt]

We had bats in our high school. One taught World History, another taught English Comp., a third taught typing. They were quite old, don't know if they slept hanging by their feet though.

One bat to another, chatting while "hanging out" in the cave; 1st bat..."what's your one biggest issue that really bothers you?" 2nd bat..."incontinence."   

[Hook#3287]

That Bat Tower is cool, to bad it didn't take long term.  Bats are finicky.

There is a ton of info available online and at YouTube.

Are you still raising bees also ? Do the bats clean up on them ?

I've suspended my beekeeping for now.  I did three years and lost three hives to the winter and inexperience.  I hope to take it up again in the future.

Bees and bats do not fly at the same time.  Bees are in the hive at dusk till dawn and bats are operating in reverse.

[Hook#3287]

We had several bats trying to set up residence behind our shutters. Wouldn't have known except for the guano all over the patio. Tried screen wire first and finally just removed that shutter.
Don't mind the bats, but man do they crap alot

Apparently, bat crap is good fertilizer.

[Rams]

I've tried several times to get a beehive put on my property to no avail.   I'm not interested in harvesting any honey, we'd just like to have a hive or two for pollination purposes.   Have contacted several beekeepers and beehive authorities but, all they seem to be interested in is selling me the hives.  I've been told that our property is perfect for beehives.

Rams

[Hook#3287]

I've tried several times to get a beehive put on my property to no avail.   I'm not interested in harvesting any honey, we'd just like to have a hive or two for pollination purposes.   Have contacted several beekeepers and beehive authorities but, all they seem to be interested in is selling me the hives.  I've been told that our property is perfect for beehives.

Rams

There's a ton of factors to consider when siting a beehive.  Location convenience is important as hives need constant attention.

Try reaching out to any state agriculturial board pertaining to bees, most states have them.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Growing up in Alaska I’ve never been around bats (although there are some there). My first excursion in the Philippines was wild. When the sun went down, they were EVERYWHERE. You could throw up a piece of fruit in the air and they’d swoop in and grab it.


(The 3 foot flying cockroaches were a whole different matter)

[Rams]

I've tried several times to get a beehive put on my property to no avail.   I'm not interested in harvesting any honey, we'd just like to have a hive or two for pollination purposes.   Have contacted several beekeepers and beehive authorities but, all they seem to be interested in is selling me the hives.  I've been told that our property is perfect for beehives.

Rams

There's a ton of factors to consider when siting a beehive.  Location convenience is important as hives need constant attention.

Try reaching out to any state agriculturial board pertaining to bees, most states have them.

Was told my property was perfect for a beehive due to the pond, forest and other bee loving factors and it is easy accessible.

May try that State AG Board idea, thanks.

Rams

[GiG]

Interesting thread topic interests me, but I still need to figure out how get the skeeter eaters to move in…
Anyone remember my Bat Bike? Black 97 STD tank badge is Bacardi logo Bat floorboards we’re topped with Bacardi bar mats - turns out I enjoy the stuff after a full fun day of riding…  

[/pre]

[ftp]       https://1000logos.net/bacardi-logo/amp/[ftp]

[LadyDraco]

I  remember  that Insignia on the  tank

[crow]

Near Live Oak FL.  Spirit of the Suwanee Music Park has a bat house that is I reckon  20' X 20' X 10'.   Just past sunset the

bats head out for the night  for what seems like 30-40 minutes.  Pretty cool thing to see. 

[Jersey mike]

Before installing on your house be sure to seal up anyplace where they may get into the house, like vents or soffits.

Many years ago I tried to get a bat house working but they never took to it and we have a great amount of woods near me and some swamp areas. I had it high up (8-10’) on an oak tree but they didn’t go to it even after a few years. Eventually I took the tree down and the bat house only to find an old bees nest.

[mbramley]

 I have a couple of bats flying my yard in the summer. I'm not sure where they sleep but have been wanting to build a bat house AWAY FROM THE HOUSE. Grandkid loves watching them. My uncle had them in his barn that he didn't use much at the time. They multiplied until the barn was almost unusable because of the amount of guano. Eventually the new owners tore it down, what a shame-nice 3 story barn. I see a cave on tv from time to time where thousands of bats fly out at sunset. I think it was in Texas or New Mexico? Big tourist attraction.

[Wizzard]

they can get into a hole the size of a dime. They are kind of a problem around here as they have got in several houses and had to be eradicated. The pest control told us if you chase them out of one house they just go to another. Sounds like he got himself a perpetual business.

On another note my BIL has a dairy farm about 3 miles from me. Neighbor was was over to pick up a load of hay and walked into the barn with a hooded sweatshirt on and a bat flew into the hood and back by her neck and bit her like 7 times. By the time we got it out and killed it and took it to the local vet they found out it was rabid and that poor gal had to go through a series of shots that were not fun at all.

[Jess from VA]

Fun story.   

We had a fox running around acting very weird and rabies was suspected.  Any animal running around acting strange should be suspect. 

[Hook#3287]

I had it high up (8-10’) on an oak tree but they didn’t go to it even after a few years.

From what I've read, trees are not a desirable location for a bat house.  The branches and leaves can make it difficult for flight and predators have easier access.

I'd rather eviction over eradication if possible, waiting till dark or winter to stop residence would be the best way, imho.

There is also the option of locating the house on a pole, away from human dwellings or accessory structures.

Any strange acting, possible rabid animal should be avoided and euthanized.

[Hook#3287]

Here's a couple to be on the look out for. 

[carolinarider09]

Here's a couple to be on the look out for. 

 

[GiG]

Fun story.  

“ Any animal running around acting strange should be suspect.”

Plenty of suspects running around acting strange at Fall Color Ride: all trying to win high score sprinting in the street against the radar speed sign outside the Phillips Hotel, Not sure if they rabid but high score was Stanley @14MPH. here’s your trophy… :

[Hook#3287]

****UPDATE****

So I installed my bat house on my dwelling this past spring and waited.

On one night, I did see some bat activity around my dwelling, but could not confirm bat house residency.

I had put a flat piece of sheet metal under the bat house and monitored it for guano.

This week I observed some activity and am happy to report residency has taken place.

Here's a pic of the bat house on my house and of one nights guano take.

[Jess from VA]

Cool.   

Hopefully they eat enough mosquitoes to justify your efforts.

I see bats flying weirdly around my house at dusk all the time (I live right in front of a large wetlands/woods).  They do the swoopy aerobatics in search of insects. 

[Jersey mike]

****UPDATE****

So I installed my bat house on my dwelling this past spring and waited.

On one night, I did see some bat activity around my dwelling, but could not confirm bat house residency.

I had put a flat piece of sheet metal under the bat house and monitored it for guano.

This week I observed some activity and am happy to report residency has taken place.

Here's a pic of the bat house on my house and of one nights guano take.

Bats are awesome insect predators and fun to watch at night zooming around.

Please make sure that vent is well protected and screened off. Even if it has vinyl screen or aluminum screen on the interior side, some tight metal mesh also applied inside will prevent them from getting curious.