 |
| Author | Post |
|---|
Lara_2012
Member
| Joined: | Sun Jun 19th, 2005 |
| Location: | US |
| Posts: | 1 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 19th, 2005 08:09 am |
|
Hi, all! And yes, this is yet another one of those bat-beginners you experienced types have probably begun to dread, so sorry in advance . Anyway, I just received a bat box as a present, and was hoping for some advice.
The box is made of red cedar; it's 10-13" high (slanted roof), 9" wide, and 5" deep. Inside, there are length-wise dividers that split it into three compartments. There is no floor. (This is not a professional box, it was purchased at a pet store.) Does this sound likely to be attractive to bats? If not, what can I do to make it more so?
According to some websites I've read, in my state (SE Pennsylvania), boxes should be dark-colored. The natural wood itself is fairly dark; do I still need to paint it?
Most of the trees near my house have too many branches to be suitable for mounting. However, there is a fence across the middle of my backyard, and I was thinking of putting the box atop the center of that. It's the biggest open area on the property. Should this work? Also, how high should the box ideally be? (I'm not sure whether to mount it right on the fence or use a pole.)
How can you tell if a box is being used? I hardly want to look inside during the day, for fear of scaring any guests. Would a tray on the ground below it to catch guano be an effective indicator?
We've always tried to keep standing water to a minimum in order to discourage mosquito breeding. Would it be worth it to re-think this policy to help keep the bat population well-fed and happy?
Again, I live in SE Pennsylvania, in a suburban area. I know we have bats; I'll often see then flying around at dusk, though never up close. What species live here, and which might I hope to provide a roost for? Also, would any of these types be likely to hibernate locally, or are they all migratory?
I adore bats; I'm not nearly as fond of bees, wasps, and the rest of their pointy brethren. What can I do to discourage their building a nest in my bat box? (Also, do you know of any bat species that eat them instead of mosquitoes? I'd love to have a few of that kind around.)
Are there any 'lures' available to encourage bats to investigate the finished house? I was thinking either audio (a tape of bat calls) or scent (guano or some such). Might these help? If so, where could I find them?
In addition to providing shelter, are there any other ways I can help my bats? (A supplemental food or water source, etc?)
Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks for listening!
-Lara
|
LarryH
Member
|
Posted: Sun Jun 19th, 2005 01:31 pm |
|
Welcome to Bat World! I'm not the "experienced type", since this is my first year with a bat house, but I'll take a stab at some of your questions.
The design of the house is pretty typical, and should attract some bats. They go up into the open bottom, and cling to the rough surfaces inside the box. You do need to stain it on the outside a dark brown, in order to cause the box to warm in the sun. Don't paint it, but use a dark brown stain. Also, go to the Photos section on this forum, and see some of the pictures others have posted of their houses and how they are mounted.
You don't want the bat house mounted directly on the fence -- that is much too low, and would subject it to way too many predators such as cats, etc. You can use one of the fence posts as the basis for a taller pole to mount the house. You want it at least 15', and preferably 20' off the ground.
Do you have a natural water source, such as a stream or river, within 1/4 mile of your house? If so, they will find the water. If you've seen bats in your area, there is probably water there that they are using. It is unlikely that you'll have bats that eat bees -- bats are night-time feeders, and eat insects that are out at night. The way I knew that I had bats was when I saw them coming out at dusk to go on their night-time foraging. You can also shine a flashlight into the bat house to see if there are bats there, but you must remember to not keep the light on for more than 10 seconds.
If you want to learn everything there is to know about bat houses, go to BCI's site, http://www.batcon.org, and order their The Bat House Builder's Handbook". It is inexpensive -- $8.95 -- and a wealth of information.
I hope I helped answer some of your questions. Others will probably chime in with additional advice.
|
Current time is 06:11 am | |
|
|
|
|
