Bat House Forum

[Carmen]

OK so I went and bought a bat house at Lowe's..and am trying to figure out where best to put it up? We have a stream that runs the entire length of our property..and along it are several power line poles. At first I planned on putting it up there..but is it safe for the bats to be near the power lines? Those are the only good way to get them near the water (as I read they like water)..b/c we have no big trees near the water, and I heard they don't do as well with their houses on trees, though I'm not sure why that is. I don't want to mount it on the house as we have vinyl siding and I don't want to damage it.

Please I'd love some ideas!

[IowaNate]

Carmen, it sounds like you have a great location for bats!

Now for my reccomendations...and please don't be offended with the first one.

The bat house from Lowe's is definately not built with bats in mind if it is the one I have seen (Garden Treasures Cedar Bat House). The minimun heigth and width that I personally reccomend for bat houses is 10" wide and 18" tall with chamber spacing no more than 7/8".

Now for the great part . The stream on your property is a major plus!
The power line poles are a fantastic place for bat houses! My first occupied bat house was hung 14 feet up on a power pole. You may need to check local regulations on hanging a bat house on a power pole, while I don't advocate doing anything "semi-illegal"...the local power company was very respectful of my bat house and worked around it when they did thier work.

I wish you great success and many years of happy bat housing!!

Nate

[cloudman75]

Carmen,
The bat house from Lowes is too small in my opinion. I have to agree with what Nate said, it is definitely
not built for bats. My sincere advice would be to take it back if possible for a refund and buy a 3 chamber bat house of an approved design.
It will cost about 50 dollars. My first bat house was 55 bucks and it is still in use after several years.
If you decide to mount it anyway, you may get a few male bats. If you go to Lowes, buy a pressure treated 2x4 about 14 ft long, and one about 8 ft long to use as a brace. Dig a hole where you want it as deep as you can with post hole diggers about 2 ft minimum. Attach the bat house, you and helper walk it up to vertical. Pack the dirt really good around the 2x4 pole. Install the 8 ft 2x4 as a brace to the ground. .You can drive a wood stake into the ground and screw the brace to it. I think that our Lowes store would have a price of about 10 bucks for both 2x4s. The bat house I have viewed at Lowes does not weigh very much. Attach the brace about 5 ft up on pole. Face the bat house South with a clear flight path away from it.

Good luck

Frank

[ShenandoahJoe]

I'm in a similar situation to Carmen, but slightly more complex. I have a point of land where the old mill creek flows into the river. I have utility poles along the creek, but they're on the north bank in the trees, so putting the house there will mean very little direct sunlight. I can get all the sunlight a bat could want by mounting the house along the riverbank. Which bank should I choose? I expect temperatures around 90 F for several months in the summer, so maybe shade would be good?

[Terry Lobdell]

Go for the sunlight with a well ventilated house...........sounds like a very good spot!

[ShenandoahJoe]

I'll do that. You're probably right about it being a good spot. If we go by the density of bugs, it's an all-you-can-eat bat smorgasbord. (And it's only April!)

Thanks.
Joe