Bat House Forum

[Syneca]

Hello All, You have some wonderful information on these forums. I feel like I'm ready to make the next step in putting a bat house in my yard. However, even with everything I've read either here or from google searches I still have some questions and learning to do. So please bare with me, I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be considering this but from the information I've been reading it seems like a win win. Win for the bats and win for me and my family.
So here's my situation... We live in Fayette County Georgia. The back of our house is protected by greenbelt, our yard is approx 250 sq feet minus the greenbelt. We have an above ground pool in our yard but around 3pm I have to go inside due to the mosquitos. For many years I've tried tons of products on the market, including ones from the herb stores. But sadly for me, I have to be covered from head to toe to be able to hang outside with my family. So after searching and searching for something, I came across bat houses and the more information I get the better I feel about doing this.

Now for the questions....
1. Is 1 bat house enough for that size yard?
2. I know I read that I'm not putting my family in danger by getting one unless there's a rabid one, but I need to ask it to hear it for myself. So am I putting my family in any danger by getting one?
3. Since I have greenbelt, can I just climb a tree and put it there or do I need to buy a pole?
4. I was considering putting it right behind our fence, which is almost in the greenbelt or do I need to put it closer to the house? (approx 65 feet from the house but only 15/20 feet from the pool).
5. I know that some come out at dusk and my kids love to swim at night, do I need to keep the pool area well lit to ensure that the bats don't bother the kids? (Not that I saying they would go after the kids, what I mean by bothering is scaring them by having them come that close to where they are. Its not like I can train the bats not to go near the yard when we're using it lol)
6. I was also considering planting marigolds and peppermint to help keep the mosquitos away will that bother the bats?

Thank you so very much for taking the time to read this, any information you have for me would help. I just want to enjoy my backyard that we spent over a year eating hamburger helper to save for and now that we finally have it, I'm spending more time itchy than anything. Thanks again and I'm sorry I type a lot, I was just trying to give as much info as possible to get the best help!

[Terry Lobdell]

Welcome! Good questions! Here are my answers:

1. Actually the more boxes you put up the faster you will attract bats to your yard. The more the better and the bigger the better......

2. No worries......I've counted bats every summer for the past 12 years with bats swooping down all around me.........I have never had one touch me.......only 1 in 200 bats carries rabies.......if you ever find a downed bat just use a glove to pick it up and put it up in a tree so it can fly away at night.

3. Absolutely DO NOT mount a box on a tree.......mount it on a pole or a building........a dead tree with no foliage might be an exception........

4. Next to the fence should be perfect........beside a greenbelt should be perfect habitat! Probably anywhere on your property should be o.k. though.........Frank, a member who lives in Georgia will give you much better info on this than me since I am in NWPA......

5. No worries about the bats getting too close to the kids......

6. No worries about the marigolds and peppermint.......

Have you ever tried a smudge pot to deter mosquitoes? You just take a tin can poke some holes in the bottom start a little fire with some wood and mix green grass with it.......it will smoke for hours enough to drive off mosquitos but not enough smoke that it is intolerable for people........

Hopefully Frank will come on here and give you more info!

[Markcuda]

We have an above ground pool in our yard but around 3pm I have to go inside due to the mosquitos.

Have you tried this?

[flyin-lowe]

Mark
I heard you can't beat Off
when it comes to bug control that is.

[Markcuda]

I heard you can't beat Off

Now, that is funny

[Joe Spencer]

Syneca, all good info provided. Additionally, it depends on what species you attract. If you attract Big Brown bats to your bat houses they do not prefer mosquitoes but are still highly beneficial for eating other insects especially beetles. If you attract other species of crevice roosting bats, such as the little brown bat, they do eat them when abundant. The sad issue with little brown bats is that they're being decimated by WNS a fungus however, it is not confirmed to be in your area yet but it is spreading. Do you see bats flying in your yard or area? If so your odds of attracting them to a bat house is higher: Below is an update on WNS:

[cloudman75]

Hello,
I'm a couple of counties over in Douglas county to be specific Lithia Springs. A 250 sq ft yard is very small ie,10 ft x25 Ft so maybe a zero is missing or something. We have mostly little brown bats here. I would suggest a three chamber minimum for around 200 to 300 bats. Put it at least 30 ft from a tree as bats don't like houses on or too close to a tree due to predators lurking there. I have been successful with Little Brown colonies. At present I have 6 bat houses in my back yard. I did very well with one for a year or so then wanted to attract more bats. I have never had a problem with bats touching me. You need to mount the bat house about 12 ft high or higher on a pole or building and make sure they have a clear fly away from the house. It has been my experience that the bats come out around dusk and fly high enough not to interfere with normal family activities. Welcome to the forum and to batting. I enjoy it very much.
Don't hesitate to ask anything we can help you with our input. I monitor this forum nearly every day Many others are also willing to help.

Frank

[Emersombiguns]

I have to agree on the danger. I have counted many times only 10' from my house and them flying within 4' sometimes. My house is in back of yard and 80' or so from house. Don't put it on tree, and make bottom at least 17' up and just have to see. Drought is hurting my population from over 166 mo ago to around 60 now..Randy NW LA

[Dave Miller]

I have had a bat fly within a foot of my head while swimming, it was pretty cool to see it in flight up close. It was getting a drink. Bats are extremely agile. Imagine the reflexes and maneuverability it must take to snatch an insect out of the air.

In my experience, most kids are fascinated by bats. Very few are afraid of them once they have watched them for a few minutes.

Can you describe your house or post a satellite photo of it? If you have a tall wall or chimney that might be a good place for a bat house.

[William Bagwell]

Dave's story of seeing a wild bat up close reminds me of an incident about 25 years ago. My wife and I were active sport cavers back then and were at an unusual cave named Tumbling rock some where in north west Alabama. Unusual in that it was both a wild (unimproved) cave but also a 'pay to get in' cave. Several separate groups were inside that day including a bunch of our friends and fellow grotto (club) members. We however, were hanging out outside the cave with a few non caving locals who were either friends or neighbors of the land owners.

Tumbling rock was not know for being an important hibernaculum or nursery colony and was heavily trafficked by locals as well as organized cavers. Plus it was summer time... Just saying before I get to the next part. Someone inside, not sure which group they were with, disturbed up a bat and it flew out side. Seeing it was still daylight it tried to return. Forgot to mention that Tumbling rock is a very large cave with a single rather small entrance, and at certain times of the day it *blows*, literally blows a nice cool breeze. Which kind of explains why a half sick caver, his wife and a hand full of non caving locals were all crowded around the entrance that day. Free outdoor air conditioning!

Our poor little disturbed bat was unable to return against this very strong breeze and was flying in place. Yes, flapping its wings as hard as it could but not making any progress. I walked over to get a closer look and as soon as I got with in arms reach, I started to become an air shadow and the bat was able to make progress. I would step forward and the bat could fly just a bit further. Continued 'walking the bat' for 20 feet or so past the narrow entrance and once the cave widened out a bit it flew off out of my sight.

Wish I had of had a video camera back then.

[Markcuda]

William, that was a great story

[Terry Lobdell]

I agree! really amazing story!

[Syneca]

Thank you very much for all your replies!
I haven't had a chance to get back here until now, school starting tomorrow and I've been running around like a loon!
I will discuss all this information with my husband and we'll see which way to go!

[Markcuda]

Another scammer.
When some one registers for this web site, does it take an actual human being?

[Joe Spencer]

Another scammer.
When some one registers for this web site, does it take an actual human being?

It can be a spambot or an actual person.
Ya Mark they're a pain in my/our ass: this Whois is from India:

descr: Access Business Group,DSL Services 101,
descr: Santhome High Road,
descr: Chennai
descr: Tamilnadu
descr: India
descr: Contact Person: K R Narasimhan
descr: Email: dsl.noctn@airtel.in
descr: Phone:044-42100479