Attracting Bat House Residents

Bats often get a bad reputation. Many people find them frightening because of their appearance. Bat droppings, which are called guano, can be full of bacteria that can make humans dangerously ill. Of course, bats have also received a bad reputation thanks to the vampire genre. It is true that there are three species of vampire bat, all of which are native to Central and South America. Of these three species, only the common vampire bat feeds on mammals. Humans have been attacked by these bats, but it is very rare. The other two vampire bat species, the hairy-legged vampire bat and the white-winged vampire bat, feed mostly on goats and birds.

Vampire bats are not native to North America. North American bat species eat bugs, insects, fruit, and flora. The large brown bat and small brown bat are the most common bat species in North America, both of which live on insects and bugs. These are the two species of bats that North Americans have the most exposure to. Stay brown bats are often found roosting in garages during the summer months when garage doors are left open.

It is unwise to allow a bat colony to roost inside the home. Bat colonies are known for moving into attics when an opening is readily available. It is important to get a pest control service to humanely remove the bat colony as soon as it is discovered. Bat guano is full of bacteria and can cause illness in humans. Significant damage to the house’s structure will also occur if the colony remains. This goes for garages too. If a bat is found in a garage, it should be left alone until evening. Open the garage doors at dusk and leave them open for the night to allow the bat to leave. Chances are good that it won’t return.

While bats are common and widespread, they often occur in some numbers in heavily populated areas. Bats prefer to roost inside caves. But bats are useful to have around. A single bat can eat as many at 1,200 mosquitoes in an hour. They are natural pest control, and bats are much less of a pest than mosquitoes that spread diseases such as West Nile Virus. Many people install bat houses in order to encourage bat colonies in the neighborhood.

Bats live in large colonies, so attracting bats to the yard means providing enough housing for at least 100 to 300 bats. Providing multiple houses near each other increases the chances of having bats move in. Males prefer not to nest with the females and pups. Bats prefer houses that are mounted on poles or buildings. Many people have found that the backs of tall garden sheds or garages are attractive to bats. Just don’t mount the bat boxes over the garage door, or you risk getting guano on you as you walk through the open garage doorway.

Bat boxes should be mounted under eaves whenever possible. They need to be 15 to 20 feet off the ground and should face away from bright lights. Bat houses should get a minimum of six hours of full sun in regions with July temperature of 80-100 degrees F, and about ten hours of full sun in regions where July temperatures max out around 80 degrees F.

Locating the bat houses near a water source, like a couple of maintained bird baths or a garden pond also helps attract them quickly. Mosquitoes breed in water and, like all creatures, bats need water for drinking. Bats and birds get along well in the same area because their hunting times rarely overlap. The bats can use the same water source as the birds.