Just a quick note that the artificial bat cave in Johnson City, Texas is now officially a maternity site. Thousands of free-tailed bat pups were observed this week in the cave, made of three concrete domes.
The cave had an estimated 200,000 bats last year (two species).
Two "artificial tree" roosts made of cinder blocks have attracted five Rafinesque's big-eared bats (3 bats in one and 2 in the other). The roosts are located at Mammoth Cave National Park. BCI is involved with 11 artificial tree roosts in NC, GA, FL, and KY, and advised on 2 additional roosts in FL. To date, all 13 roosts have had bat activity. 11 roosts are made of either concrete manhole shaft pieces, concrete road culvert pieces, cinder blocks, or concrete-fiber drain pipe. The additional roosts in FL are made from metal road culvert with a lumber exterior and an elastomeric coating on the interior. Roosts are 14 to 16 feet tall and range from 3 to 4 feet inside diameter (one roost is 2 feet inside diameter).
These roosts are designed for species that use large, hollow trees and that don't normally roost in bat houses.
