Bat House Forum

[expavr]

We just moved to a home near Hansville, Kitsap County, WA. In the evening we've been treated to an incredible show of stealth aerobatics as several bats voraciously attack the insects attracted to the light from our windows overlooking Puget Sound. The downside of this effort is a copious pile of guano on the floor of an old shop building which will eventually become my man cave. We definitely want to continue to support them with their nocturnal predatory activity, but would like to encourage them to move to finer digs elsewhere on the property. Being new to bat husbandry we are hoping that members of this forum can give us some advice on how to best proceed. Thanks in advance. Les Williams

[IowaNate]

My first step would be to build at least two bat houses, each capable of holding most of the bat colony. Second would be to mount the houses near or on your outbuilding at least 10 feet off the ground and recieving as much sunlight as possible (for solar heating). Third, you will need to locate where the bats are entering the outbuilding, then use a safe exclusion techniquie in late Fall or very early Spring. Generally a piece of bird netting with holes no larger than 3/8" taped or stapled 3" above the entrance and then taped or stapled down the sides to 6-12" below the entrance, be sure to leave anoth 12" of netting hanging below the last stapling of the sides. This will allow the bats to crawl out and under the netting, but when they return, they will land on the netting and not be able to return inside (basically a one-way door).