Bat House Forum

[David McLeod]

Hampton, GA actually. I found this site looking for info on bat boxes. I am a wildlife professional and am the owner of Georgia Wildlife Services, Inc and will be adding bat house installation to my list of services in the very near future along with my continuing efforts to educate both my clients and the general public of the very real need to protect and preserve these fascinating creatures. So far I have been reading the posts to this forum and have gleaned quite a bit of useful information.
I am specifically interested in three designs for my clients. The single and double chamber rocket boxes, mainly for the ease of construction off site and transport to the site and installation, plus the aesthetics of these designs would be more acceptable in urban neighborhoods. I regularly work throughout downtown Atlanta and in some rather upscale neighborhoods, I want be able to provide this service and help the bats without running afoul of the HMAs.
The other design I'm interested in is one I see mentioned on the net, the Uncle George. On one site it is mentioned favorably yet I see very little information on this design. It appears to an attractive design that would do well for those clients that want a house installed on a structure such as a house or outbuilding.
I am open to suggestions as to what others have used and what works. My main criteria are ease of construction and installation to keep costs down for my clients plus the overall aesthetics of the design for client acceptance.

My goals are two fold. First, is that over the years I have operated as a professional bat excluder (among the many species that I deal with) I have developed quite the fascination with these special animals and think they deserve greater protection, particularly from some folks in my own chosen profession and allied trades but that is a whole nother can of worms. Second, from both the purely pragmatic and genuine concern WNS scares the living daylights out of me. How can I as a professional that relies on the bats to provide a living for me when they choose poorly in their choice of roosting areas plus as a human being with a modicum of ethics continue to exclude bats without at least offering an alternate habitat for the bats.
If anyone can offer suggestions I am all ears. I am also open for discussion on just how those in my field can help protect and preserve bats. Thank you in advance.

[Terry Lobdell]

Welcome! I agree with you about the rocket designs being an all around good way to go........they are easy to make and mount and pleasing to look at.........

I used to saw kerf the portion of the portion of the post the bats roost on but the last couple years have had very good luck with just rough sawn lumber........a double rough sawn 2x4 post spliced onto a treated 4x4 should work well........a 4x6 or 6x6 would be even better.........