How can we help?
How can we help bats to live a better life? Do they need our help? What do they do for us? Please watch the video below.
How to build a bat house
Bats are attracted to water, such as ponds, where they feed on insects over the water, and to outdoor lights that attract flying insects. One way to attract bats to your property, or to give them an alternate roost after excluding them from your attic, is to provide them with a bat house, such as the one on the following pages developed by Bat Conservation Inter- national. Bat houses located near a permanent source of water, especially a marsh, lake or river, are by far the most likely to attract bats. The houses should be hung roughly 12-20 feet above the ground and sheltered as much as possible from the wind. There should be at least 3 feet of open space beneath the box.
For maternity colonies, place the bat house on or very near the building where the colony was roosting before exclusion. Houses can be placed on the building, on poles or even on trees. The most important requirement is that the house receive about 7 or more hours of sunlight per day to maintain temperatures needed by the bats and their pups. Face the box southeast or southwest. Also, keep the location of the box away from a great deal of human activity or traffic, and place it where bat droppings will not be a problem. Don’t be discouraged if conditions for your bat house are not perfect. Even natural roosts are seldom ideal.
WV DNR Wildlife Diversity Program- 304.637.0245If you put up a bat house and have bats using it, please report your success to:
Bat House Report
WV DNR PO Box 67 Elkins, WV 26241
Bat House Plans
Here are the plans for building your own bat house. If you would like more information about bat houses and how to build them, contact Bat Conservation International, PO Box 162603, Austin, TX 78716 and the West Virginia Wildlife Diversity Program.
Hanging Your Bat House
Your house can be hung in a variety of ways depending upon the circumstances. One of the easiest ways is to drill two 1⁄4” holes in the back of the box; the holes should be centered and about 4 inches from the top and bottom. Drive two stout nails into the desired surface for hanging; the sides of buildings are best, then poles, and then dead trees. Hang the box 15-20 feet off of the ground, if possible, and be sure it gets at least six hours of sunlight a day. It should also be painted a dark color to absorb heat.
For maternity colonies, place the bat house on or very near the building where the colony was roosting before exclusion. Houses can be placed on the building, on poles or even on trees. The most important requirement is that the house receive about 7 or more hours of sunlight per day to maintain temperatures needed by the bats and their pups. Face the box southeast or southwest. Also, keep the location of the box away from a great deal of human activity or traffic, and place it where bat droppings will not be a problem. Don’t be discouraged if conditions for your bat house are not perfect. Even natural roosts are seldom ideal.
WV DNR Wildlife Diversity Program- 304.637.0245If you put up a bat house and have bats using it, please report your success to:
Bat House Report
WV DNR PO Box 67 Elkins, WV 26241
Bat House Plans
Here are the plans for building your own bat house. If you would like more information about bat houses and how to build them, contact Bat Conservation International, PO Box 162603, Austin, TX 78716 and the West Virginia Wildlife Diversity Program.
Hanging Your Bat House
Your house can be hung in a variety of ways depending upon the circumstances. One of the easiest ways is to drill two 1⁄4” holes in the back of the box; the holes should be centered and about 4 inches from the top and bottom. Drive two stout nails into the desired surface for hanging; the sides of buildings are best, then poles, and then dead trees. Hang the box 15-20 feet off of the ground, if possible, and be sure it gets at least six hours of sunlight a day. It should also be painted a dark color to absorb heat.