Bat House Forum

[cloudman75]

After some chilly nights it warmed into the 60s today so I decided to take some bat house photos. As I have posted before, I really believe that some bats can forecast weather. Anyway the photos revealed two bats in one house and my little resident bat in another. On cold nights below 30F, even my resident bat disappears. Tonight Dec 31,2011 I have 3 bats here.
Frank



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Update Jan. 1,2012 Still have 3 bats total same houses. Colder weather forecast. Unusual for two which are dark colored, but same size as little browns. Don't know for sure what they are.
Update: Jan 2, low forecast for tonight 18-23 F. All bats gone tonight.

Frank

[JR0835]

Where do the bats go when it gets cold? Down here in south Texas, they go to Mexico.

Batbox8.jpg (45.34 KiB) Viewed 115 times

Batbox9.jpg (34.11 KiB) Viewed 115 times

I enhanced the photos a little to see the bats.
Jack

[cloudman75]

Jack,
I don't know where they go. Last night after a few warm days of 60F or higher, I had 4 bats total in three houses. I was pleased to see one bat in the old 5 chamber I just put up. The cave where I think the little browns hibernate is only about an hour flying time for them,so they may go there to stay warm, I don't know. I also have about 100 freetails in the summer and I think they go to Florida when it gets cold here. The gulf coast is about 300 miles to
Panama city Beach. Of course south Georgia is about the same distance to the coast.
The majority of my bats arrive back about the middle or last of March depending on the weather. This has been a very mild winter so far here.


Frank

[Terry Lobdell]

Frank, I just mailed a C.D. with a power point showing the design of the observation box I built to people in Miramar Beach. I also emailed them the link of the forum and told them you would be the guy to talk to about attracting bats in their area.......I have no experience with freetails or bat houses in Southern climates........

[cloudman75]

Hi Terry,
If I can assist them in any way I will respond if they contact me. I had one bat in the house I painted for the last two nights. You were right painting the exterior of the old 5 chamber with latex on the exterior did not deter the bats. I posted a photo tonight.

Frank