Bat House Forum

[William Bagwell]

Quite normal for them to move several times a year. Seeking warmer, or cooler, temperatures and or avoiding a build up of parasites and or... Extremely frustrating for me as my tiny little colony has came and went several times so far this year. Good news is that they came back this morning as I was leaving for work! Bad news is none are in the real bat house this time

William

[staceybie]

Thanks for the quick response. Now I am relieved and hopeful they will return. I thought they got angry because we were too noisy and woke them up during the day. I know there were a few pups in there. Maybe they learned to fly and will return. I moved the house around the chimney to the other side to deal better with the Guano but it seems from your forum that they will be able to find it again. Thanks for having this forum.

[Terry Lobdell]

Stacey, If you live in southern Ohio the pups have probably just learned how to fly..........maternity colonies seem to disperse once the pups start flying..........they will be back though........they move around a lot after pups start flying........You are off to a good start if you have 19 big browns already!

[marius]

Stacey, I'm new here and also appreciate all the helpful folks and information ... and the answers to your questions gave answers for me too. : )

Now Frank, that last photo with the bat hanging from the back of the bat house? Priceless! Even spouse got a big smile out of it! Thanks!

When our big browns come back (see how hopeful I am), I'm going to try to get some bat pics too. We still have one bat staying at the back of the new bat house. Not sure how what it is hanging onto, but it's been there consistenly since the first time we saw it. Spouse said it was a tree frog but I pointed out the guano ... tee hee, not sure what frog droppings look like but not like this. Oh, and the big browns are still flying around here quite a bit at night, just not using the bat house.

Marius

[marius]

Hi everyone ... haven't been here is a while, busy summer, but just wanted to let you all know that you were right ... our bats are back! Counted 19 big browns leaving tonight but I didn't go out to count soon enough. There were MANY more in the house than 19. The bats are staying in the first house, one they used earlier in the summer. None are staying in the second house. Maybe it's too close to the bald cypress tree? It has branches about ten feet away from the base of that house.

Just a big thanks for all your help, advice and comments earlier in the summer. I'm thinking about putting a third house up, on the chimney. Spouse is not thrilled about that but the chimney faces east/north-east and would offer cooler temperatures. The squirrels get on the roof near there sometimes but have never seen them on the chimney.

Thanks again for your help!

Marius

[Terry Lobdell]

Marius, that is great news! Putting up a 3rd house is an excellent idea! The more options you give the bats the more will attract! Also, chimneys are excellent especially for big browns the way they act like a heat sink.......