Bat House Forum

[Sue]

Hello, I'm in N.J. I'am looking for some suggestions as to how to relocate a few bats that have been residing in a house that I am renovating.  I know that I need to put up a bat house but where? as to the size I need is in question, as of last night I counted approx.  70 (+/- ) that departed on their nightly flight.  I DO NOT want to eliminate them but would like them on thier own.  they enter and stay on the northern side of the house where is opposite of what most sights state. Any help would greatly be apppricated 

 

[Terry Lobdell]

Hi Sue,

Sounds like they might be big brown bats if they are on the north side. I would initially try to mount a bat box on that side of your house. then mount one on a pole in that area of your yard.

Another thing to consider, is that even though they are exiting the north side, they still might be roosting in another area of you house wich gets more sun.

Your number of approx. 70 indicates that this is a maternity colony and they will be having babies in June.

If you look at some of their guano you can tell if they are little browns or big browns. Little brown bat guano is closer to mice sized and big brown bat is quite a bit larger.

Probably a 3 crevice maternity box would be best. If you e-mail me some pictures of you location I could better advise you on where to place a bat house.

[BatMan]

You may also want to see where their main entrance/exit is and place a bat house as close to that as possible. Go out at dusk and have someone on each corner of the house to see where they are getting in and out. They may have alternate entrance/exits that you just haven't noticed yet. You will probably want to wait til fall to evict them, but get the bat house up as soon as possible.

[Joe Spencer]

Good suggestions already above.  Indeed, entrances and exits on north sides of houses/buildings can be misleading.  It can often be just an entrance to another area which may or may not have a different solar orientation and temperature where the bats officially reside.  Within link below, look under Bat Exit count for additional help.

http://www.batnic.org/bat-help.htm

[Sue]

Hi Terry,

I'm having trouble with putting the pictures on for you to see so I'll try to explain the entrance location.  Although I know there may be other openings I belive they mostly use one main entrance.  It is about 4 to 5 feet from the peck of the house  (little cape cod) almost adjacent to the attic window. I'm not sure if I should place the bat house close to or over the hole but allowing them to exit. I belive they are the big browns comparing the dropping.  I have not seen any little ones as of yet. Yesterday was quite warm and they where all spead out along the block wall.

 

[BatMan]

Once you identify the other openings, you need to close those up first. I would not put the bat house directly over the main entrance. Mount the bat house a foot or two away from the entrance/exit. And read this link on how to properly exclude them. http://www.batcon.org/home/index.asp?idPage=51&idSubPage=49