Bat House Forum

[woodbutcher17]

I was wondering about how much free space under the entrance is required ? I am talking about the area from the bottom of the house to any obstructions for the bats to free fall before taking flight. Thanks for any info youall can give me. . . Woodbutcher

[William Bagwell]

General consensus is at least 12 feet. More is fine and occasionally necessary for attracting some species, IIRC free-tails are one that prefer them much higher. Have not positively identified my tiny little colony, (have eliminated free-tails) and they roost approximately 28 feet high in the eaves of my house. Had one or two briefly use a real bat house that is mounted at 14 feet to the bottom.

William

[Terry Lobdell]

I agree with William........I only have little and big browns using my bat boxes............I have observed them exiting a lot the past 10 years.........on average little browns drop about 5 feet when they exit before leveling off.........I would say it's about the same for big browns too..........but it can vary sometimes more and sometimes less...........I have seen them only drop a foot before leveling in flight.......

I have some pictures of a chimney mounted box with only 4 feet of space underneath........it has a gap in back and the big browns that use it have the option to come out the top.........but they still prefer to drop face down to exit............I'm guessing they build up more speed when they dive straight down thus better avoiding any potential predator that might be waiting for them.........

Another thing I should mention.........based on a lot of observation I don't think bats like shrubs or small trees too close to the entrance of their bat box........they seem to be fine with high weeds, goldenrod etc., but shrubs and small trees based on what I have seen = low occupation of bat houses.......

[cloudman75]

Wood butcher 17,
The main problem as I see it is for the pups learning to fly. They need more space than an adult to earn their wings. Many I have watched just barley clear the ground with a bat house 12 ft up. I would say give the house close to 12 ft or more if available for a maternity colony. They need the time a vertical drop of that height gives them for air speed and to gather their bearings. Just my opinion from observation a few years as a bat person.


Frank

[woodbutcher17]

Thanks for the info. This helps alot. . . .

[Markcuda]

I don't want to hijack this thread, so, a bat can't just take to flight like a bird?
I could start a new thread on my question?

[Terry Lobdell]

No, they need to free fall a little ways to take off.........I have seen them take off from on top of a car........Bats cannot walk like a bird.......they crawl when on the ground and often must climb a tree in order to take off.........

[Markcuda]

Terry, thank you very much
I learn some thing new every day and today was no exception

[Joe Spencer]

I don't want to hijack this thread, so, a bat can't just take to flight like a bird?
I could start a new thread on my question?

No not most species however I was lucky enough to witness:
.....I had a big brown in my house which I isolated in one room. I had a very large fishing net I retrieved and wanted to try it for the first time. After flying panicked while I sat on the bed watching it, the bat finally took a rest and I gently caught him. I then easily got him out of the net and brought him outside. To experiment I placed him 1ft. a foot above the ground to see if he/she could gain flight. I didn't want to try any higher fearing harming the bat. He/she to my surprise scooted off and just barely gained flight enough above the ground and appeared to skirt it and flew off. There are species of bats which can leap directly from the ground (common vampire bat is one of them) but our common bats need a little space at a bare minimum. At a house I went to nearly 20 years ago where I assisted with an exclusion, a nursery colony of little browns exited from a crack in the siding which was only 3 feet above the ground. When I first witnessed it I thought it was incredible however, the terrain did slope slightly down so when the bats dropped they had about 3.5 ft. still amazing and that is why I tested the big brown bat years later at the approximate 1ft. level.

[Markcuda]

Joe, that story is cool as heck
I am just so fascinated with these little creatures