Bat House Forum

[torontobat]

behind my bedroom door!

Sadly he is dead, but i am very confused!  I just returned from a week's long vacation so im wondering where he came from or how long he's been on my floor.

I've tried to look up information on the stages of decomposition but came up empty handed.  He still had all his fur and his ears are fine.  The base of his wings seem a little wrinkly and dry, would this be a sign of him being dead for a few days?

Any help or suggestions would be great!

I could also take macro shots of him and post them up if that would assist.

Thanks!

[Terry Lobdell]

Bats often get inside in the summer during periods of hot humid weather. It probably is either a little or big brown bat. 

[torontobat]

Thanks for the info!

I don't know if we'll ever find out how he got in as windows aren't without screens and the doors are only open as we enter and exit the house.  I know he could have slipped in through the door but i tend to think he came down the chiminey and slipped through a crack under our gas fireplace.

We're a bit more concerned with how long he's been there.

Do bats start to decompose fast?  As i stated earlier, his wings seem a bit dry and wrinkly at the bottom.  Would this be a sign of him being dead for a week?  maybe less?

Also through searches of bats in southern ontario it's showing him to be a evening bat.  Apparently they are common.  In 23 years of living in this house we've never seen one before except in the sky in the summer.  Im a bit of a nature nut and i always find it great to see a bat around our garden.  It's very rare.

[Terry Lobdell]

From your description it sounds like he was dead a day or two. Evening bats are supposed to eat japanese beetles. Have you consedered mounting a bat house on your property?

[Joe Spencer]

Do you have year round water within close proximity (1/4 mile or less) of your residence?  If you don't have a chimney cap then that is a good possibility.  Indeed  I hope you will consider placing bat houses and would be happy to assist you with the project should you consider it. ;)

[torontobat]

We're pretty close to lake Ontario and a large bay.

If you'd like to present me with some bat house layouts i wouldn't mind putting a few up.

Will other animals bother with them in the houses? We have plenty of cats and squirrels around so i don't want to put them in any danger.

[Joe Spencer]

I don't have any plans up as of yet for bat houses, (meaning to at some point) but if you google them you can find them online.  The link below contains photos of my recently build rocket bat which gives you an idea how this is utilized on a post. No severe worry about cats and squirrels won't bother bats.  When a bat house is designed and erected properly, it will keep bats safe from predators such as house cats. Cats can't climb the side of a building which is why bat houses are successful on buildings.