A LITTLE BATTY

Batty A Little Bit BY AMELIA BOLDAJI

Bats are unfairly maligned for being dangerous pests, but A BACKYARD BAT FAMILY MIGHT NOT BE YOUR FIRST supplying homes for THOUGHT FOR WELCOMING SEASONAL VISITORS, but there these tiny mammals can actually provide are still plenty of reasons to consider installing a bat house on your property this spring. Setting any preconceptions aside for starters, bats are much more afraid of humans than the other way around, and a lasting benefit for for good reason, too – though these nocturnal creatures are vastly your area. important to global ecosystems, their populations have decreased at an alarming rate in recent years due to factors such as habitat destruction.

But even if conservation isn’t enough incentive, these unique flying mammals are also excellent nighttime pollinators (much like their daytime counterparts, bees) and are a perhaps surprisingly effective natural pest control resource as well. The overwhelming majority of bats prey on insects such as gnats, beetles, roaches and mosquitos – an invaluable service on sticky hot southern evenings. Depending on its size, in fact, a single bat can eat nearly 70% of its body weight in insects, ultimately consuming anywhere from 1,000 to 7,000 mosquitos in one night.

And while there are more than 1,400 species of bats worldwide, there are several kinds that regularly call the Outer Banks home after they emerge from their winter hibernation in the spring – which, incidentally, is the best time to install a bat house since it gives bats a safe place to raise their young during their prime local roosting season from early May into July.

A bit of patience should be kept in mind, however – while bats routinely return to the same roosts annually and stay here from spring through summer, it can take a year or two for them to find and occupy a new bat house.

Creating the ideal conditions for a bat house can help speed things up though, which is a good point to note that not all bat houses are equal, and size does matter. A quick internet search will inevitably produce a number of bat houses for sale, including ones that resemble small birdhouses – but if hosting bats is really what you’re after, you’ll keep scrolling. According to the nonprofit Bat Conservation International, the optimum size for a successful bat house is approximately two feet wide and at least three feet tall. And yes, bigger is better.

That’s not to say that you can’t purchase a perfectly respectable bat house from a number of outlets, but it also isn’t terribly hard to build your own if you’re at all handy. Whichever route you take, there are a few other installation tips that can make a considerable difference, including placing your bat house in an area with ample sunlight (warmer temps are favorable for mothers and their pups) and making sure that it’s at least 10 to 15 feet off the ground in order to provide protection against predators.

If possible, it’s also not a bad idea to mount your bat house on a freestanding metal or wooden post. In addition to their preference for roosting at a certain height, bats are wary of houses mounted on trees because of their vulnerability to predators. Bats also tend to prefer homes with a nearby water source – but even the best host can’t always provide everything, and that’s okay!

Just remember the most important thing: If you build it, they will come.

These plans are for a simple two-chamber house, but you can modify yours to include three or more chambers if you’d like to attract a larger colony of bats.

Use exterior-grade plywood that’s at least 18” x 24” for the first two panels, with an additional back panel that’s about 4-6” taller. Create a horizontal vent by separating the front panel a few inches from the bottom. Cut shallow horizontal grooves approximately .5” apart along all the interior surfaces to provide grip for the bats. Bats like to avoid light, so apply a dark stain to all the interior surfaces as well (don’t use regular paint if possible since it can fill the grooves).

Cut spacing blocks for the top and the sides (angling the top pieces to allow for the roof). Bats are small, so the blocks only need to keep the panels about .75” apart.

Separate the blocks along the back panel to allow for another set of vertical vents a few inches from the bottom of the house.

Remember that the bottom should be left open to offer the bats a convenient exit/ entryway.

Attach the panels and spacing blocks, then caulk all the joints to protect against drafts and help lock in the heat. During the height of summer in our area, the interior should regularly reach temperatures of at least 80°-100°.

Attach the roof (making sure that it’s large enough to slightly hang over the front and sides), and then attach the side panels. Cut notches in the side panels that align with the vertical vents.

Don’t forget to stain and seal the exterior of your bat house. For our local climate, you should avoid an exterior color that’s too light – using a darker stain similar to the interior will help keep the house appropriately toasty.

Finally, mount the house as high as possible in an area that gets at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight.

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