No Bats in Your Bat House? Try These Tips
Don't be discouraged if you've put up a bat house and haven't had occupants yet. You may just need to make a few of these changes that bat experts have recently discovered.
- Paint house black or stain dark
- Caulk house seams to make it tight to maximize heat and minimize temperature changes
- Build tall, large house, at least two feet tall, 14 inches wide
- Provide at least six-inch landing area extended below bottom entrance
- Make baffles out of rough lumber and separate by 3/4 to 1 inch
- Mount house at least 12 feet above ground on pole, with no obstructions for at least 20 feet
- Put two bat houses back-to-back and cover with tin roof
- Place box in a location that gets at least six hours of sun daily
- Place box within a quarter mile of at least a three acre body of water
These ideas were from a recent Bat Conservation International (BCI) workshop.
-Crossing Paths Newsletter
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
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