Don’t Fight Them, Join Them With a Bat House
Artificial roosts for bats have been used in Europe for over 60 years, but have been slow to gain popularity in the U.S. It appears that they may attract bats that are displaced from a structure. Bat houses should be located away from human high use areas. You can buy a bat house or you can build one yourself – see the file Building a Bat House for instructions. Do not be discouraged if you don’t immediately get occupants; it can take years.
Finding the right location for a bat house can sometimes be difficult. Their requirements are quite specific and precise. If you place a bat house in the open, facing East or Southeast (for morning sun) you might attract a brooding group of females. Boxes placed nestled in woods, on the West of North sides are hardest to rent out to bats. Sometimes bachelor colonies of 4-12 bats will occupy boxes placed facing due South. Experts prefer to mount them at least 25 feet high. Generally some body of water should be within a half-mile of the site; since bats prefer the insects that are associated with water and wetlands.
