Bat House

So by repeat, I guessing they are getting bats? I haven’t seen any activity in mine, so much so that I gave it away to a freind with a more appropriate location.

Nice job on this one.

-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX

You mean that bats will live in them?

-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX

Can anyone imagine hearing “to the bat house, Robin”? (sorry, I caved in to the desire to be a joker) I didn’t know bats lived in houses.(Seriously) I guess I’ve lived a sheltered life…Or is that where the bat boys who travel with baseball teams live? As to not having any activity in your bat house, how about a little welcome mat that says “Come in & hang around for a while” -SST

-- Accuracy is not in your power tool, it's in you

robs, was the bat house facing north or south? this is a key factor in atracting bats.

GaryK, yes approximatly 50 to 75 bats.

-- tool time tim aka "cobra5"

They say when you place a bat house it may not be occupied for the first few seasons and by increasing numbers later.

-- If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait until it's free! PJ O'Rourke

Too small for my wife.......... sorry, I just had too!

In fact, I have often thought of making one of these.

-- Brian, Ontario Canada,

Do you have a plan? I think I would like to make one of these.

Very interesting.

-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX

Cobra, I had it set at the right height, facing the right direction, probably not enough water near by.. and the wasps took over for a season, took it down cleaned it up resealed all the joints and gave it to family that is right next to a river. Will get an update this memorial day w/e..

Are yours placed close to water source?

-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX

and Gary, just surf around, I’m sure there are plans abound on the web..

-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX

Water source? I have about a 15 acre lake about 300 feet from my house. Is that close enough.
What is the right height and direction?

-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX

Put it on a south wall facing the sun Gary. Put it up high…like 20’. The bats will kick out a ton of guano (poo-poo) so if it’s over a garden, your plants will love it. If you collect it, be sure not to touch it (full of bacteria and other nasties) and compost it first. Bat guano is too “hot” to put directly on the plants. Your mosquitos won’t love the bats however, as the bats will pretty much eradicate the population of night-time bugs. Here’s a link: http://www.eparks.org/wildlife_protection/wildlife_facts/bats/bat_house.asp When you make the inner partitions, it’s advisable to score it with horizontal saw kerfs to give the bats something to grab on to.

Bats can fit into the tinest little holes too. I have Little Brown Bats nesting in a 1/4” seperation between the roof sheathing and shingles of my porch roof.

My bro-in-law had this barn where the walls opened up making it into a pavillion of sorts. We had many parties there, live music, barn stomping and cold beer. Well, he built a bat house and hung it inside to give the little buggers a safe place to rest in the winter. (Bats hibernate in the caves in the winter guys.) Anyhow, on about sundown they (the bats) started to fall out (we were getting pretty inebriated by then) and everyone had gathered ‘round to see. It was a pretty cool show till they started coming out in droves! Bats were swooping everywhere, and the ladies were ducking and the local cats were jumping and the band played on. Then “someone” (not that I’d really admit that I did it) yells “Don’t let them get into your hair cuz that’s where they lay their eggs!” And now the women were screaming and swatting at their heads and diving into their cars. It got pretty funny there for awhile! Separated the city slickers from the country folks pretty quick.

And the band played on.

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

Ha, love it…

Gary, Here’s another link…http://www.batconservation.org/content/Bathouseimportance.html

-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX

Interesting guys! Thanks for the links.

-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX

Nice bat house. I have been thinking about one of these so thanks for the links. My neighbor put one up and to date hasn’t had any residents. But from the comments listed above it is too low and, until I put out my fountains, the nearest water source is a wetlands about 1/2 mile away. Too far for the bats to use. But I make make one anyway just to see what happens.

-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine

Garyk, bat house
2 sides 3/4×3.5”x27”
1 back 3/4×6.5”x27”
1 front 3/4×6.5”x21”
1 top 3/4×6”x8”
at the inside top front add a 3/4×2”x5.5” spacer
at the inside bottom front add a3/4×1” 1/78×5.5” cedar is best, outside top should be dark
bat it all together and you got a bat house**

-- tool time tim aka "cobra5"