Hi! I am new to this list and am planning to build a couple of bat houses (joined BCI). I have a question about placement: the side of my house and most of the property on that side that gets southern exposure is a fenced in yard for my dogs (and me ). Would it be safe to locate houses on this side of my house(worried about guano,..) or is it better to have it out of fenced in area?
I have bats in my roof area (or recently did...) I live in a wooded area on a large stream with lots of yummy bugs for the bats!! Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Sue
Hi Sue Welcome to the BHF and BCI is really great. Regarding your placement of bat houses: If at all possible it might be a good Idea to relocate your bat houses on a side of the house in which your dogs don't frequent as much. If you can still get them mounted high enough it is more beneficial. Your home will also help buffer the temperature of the bat houses. Right under the eaves or soffits is always a great place. One of the best places is a brick or mortar chimney if you have it. I have had great success there. Mount bat houses in a group on the same side. If you are unsuccesful in attracting bats after one full season, try painting one of them a lighter or darker shade. If you install more than one, it is a good idea to do this first. Don't worry about the guano harming the dogs if you weigh everything and still have to put up your bat houses in the fenced in area. The only concern is that a potentilly sick bat could fall out of bat house and lay on ground and bite one of the dogs which is rare. Of course if your dogs are current with their rabies shot then your ok. Check out my link HERE: http://www.batnic.org/Bat_House_Tips/bat_house_tips.html If you need more help post back someone will help ya for sure. FYI if u didn't already know, when you make a post in the forum you have the option on the posting screen to check a little box that says "Notify me when a reply is posted" you will then be emailed to notify you someone has responded to your post. You can also gointo your profile after logging in and set this feature as a default as well. Cheers and again welcome Joe....
If you mount the bat house on the side of house or chimney you may want to use 2 horizontal 3/4" boards on the back of the bat house on each side. This helps eliminate moisture by allowing air ciculation behind the bat house. The paint will stay on the bat house longer and back of bat house will last much longer.
When mounting bat houses on post 2 bat houses are many times more successful. If you have the BCI plans the 3 baffle nursery house is a good plan. One of the best bat houses is the beginners bat house easy to make and bats seem to like it.
I like to use 2 short post or iron in the ground that are 6- 8 ft. long between these put a 10 - 12 ft. 4"x4" or 4"x6" post. Use 2 bolts to hinge the longer post. This way if you want ot remove one of the houses.or repaint one of the houses, it is a lot easier than with a ladder on a single post ,believe me.
Not to change subject checked 6 houses in a state park in ILL. that were put up last Sept. 2- double chambered rocket boxes and 4- 6 baflle Penn. state . The houses were all occupied by little brown maternity colonies this year.
The interesting note about these houses none were mounted over 8 ft. high. 2 of the 6 baffle houses were only mounted 6 ft. high. All had maternity colonies in them.When we put them wanted to see if the bats would use houses mounted that low.
At these heights very easy to identify species using the houses and knocking the wasps nest out .Will be trying some low mounted houses again next year,not going to mount any houses less than 6 ft. above the ground.
). Would it be safe to locate houses on this side of my house(worried about guano,..) or is it better to have it out of fenced in area?
