Bat House Forum

[Canute]

Just wondering if anyone has ever made an attempt or had any success at providing artificial heating to a bat house? It's getting to be the time of year in which my bat houses are getting considerably less sun than they once did. My research on the potential species of bats that I have suggest that these types of mountain bats may use the houses up to ten months out of the year if they maintain the right temperatures. I've been looking into the possibility of trying some form of artificial radiant heating system. Ideas I've considered are a solar "waffle" type substance that I found that theoretically will heat up in the suns heat and hold the heat for long periods of time and I'm also considering trying some form of direct electrical powered radiant heating system. Would like to know if anyone has any realistic suggestions or experience with this.

[Joe Spencer]

Yes Richathome did it here. Scroll down and you will see the photos of what he did: late-season-find-t621.html

[Richathome]

Canute I did have a Big Brown stay the winter in a single chamber house that I had placed under our back deck. He appeared in late November and remained in the single chamber house that I provided with artifical heat until mid March. I checked on the dormat bat almost every day and was very interesting for me. Now into October I have 6 Big Browns still staying in my regular pole mounted houses and have not seen any evidence of one of them moving into the single chamber house but I suspect it will be late Nov. until I will see any movement. The Big Browns are fairly cold tolerant and stick around until later before they finally seek their hibernation spots, staying in the houses during periods of cold & wet then foraging as warm returns throughout the fall.

If the bat chooses to use the single chamber house again this year I am "probably" not going to heat the house for it again. This I will decide for sure later as I am sure the bats are quite capable of taking care of themselves. Good Luck if you do try to heat the houses for your bats and not to be concerned if you do not. Providing housing during their active seasons is whats important.