Bat House Forum

[Skyhigh82]

Do bats investigate new houses at night while flying around or at dawn? Is there anything I can do to attract them to a new house? I have about four or five flying around at night and was just curious

[Terry Lobdell]

My feeling is they explore while they forage for food at night. Mine of both species, little browns and big browns explore the most about a week after pups start flying all the way til they leave for fall.

The mothers will investigate different bat houses during the 2 weeks prior to giving birth but then almost always settle for a familiar house to give birth in.

The best thing I've found to attract bats is mounting a previously used box which has the scent already in it. I'm guessing the urine stains on the landing pad may be what gives off much of the scent. Most likely, the fresher and greater the quantity, the better.

I am now experimenting with strips of wood lathe attached to landing pads to catch some of the urine. Once these are urine stained, I will take them down and attach them to new boxes mounted in locations where I am trying to attract bats.