Common Questions and answers About Bat Houses

Where should I hang my bat house?

The most successful bat houses are those mounted on a building or a chimney at a height

of 15 feet or more. For most of the continental USA, the houses should be placed facing to

the southwest. However, the southern states have proved that other directions can be suc-cessful also. The house should face a clearing and be located away from branches or power

lines. Bat houses with ventilation slots on the side should be mounted so the slots will not

be obstructed by the eaves of the building. Bat houses can also be mounted on poles, but

are not as successful as those mounted on buildings. Bat houses mounted on trees are the least successful because bats that naturally roost in trees are solitary and roost openly on

branches (colonial, socialistic, crevice-dwelling species use bat houses).

How can I attract bats to my bat house?

There is no known substance or plant that attracts bats or increases the chances of bat

house

occupation. However, bat houses that are mounted within 1/4 mile of a body of water (e.g. creek, pond or lake) are more quickly inhabited than those that are not. Also, houses that

are located in areas where colonies of bats already exist in buildings or caves are more

likely to be occupied.

Can bats be purchased or relocated to my bat house?

It is illegal to buy or sell bats, in part because over 56% of bat species in the US are endangered or official candidates for listing with the United States Fish and Wildlife Depart-

ment. Bats cannot be relocated and introduced into a bat house because they are highly

territorial and will simply attempt to fly back to where they came from.

Will a bat house interfere with my bird house?

No, birds and bats do not compete for food or space.

Can a bat house on my home be dangerous?

Although bats rarely contract rabies, those that are found on the ground are more likely to be

sick (or injured) and may bite in self-defense when handled. Consequently, children should

be taught to never handle bats and pets should be vaccinated against rabies. If a bat is

found grounded do not handle it with bare hands. Use leather gloves or a thick cloth to gently gather up the bat. Place the bat into a ventilated box, put the lid on and call a wild-

life rehabilitator or organization for help. Keep the box in an area away from children or

pets until help arrives. If the bat has already been handled without gloves or has had (or is

suspected of having) contact with children or pets, please call your health department as

well as animal control. Bat droppings (guano) pose no more of a health threat than the droppings from birds or other mammals. Be careful not to place plants directly under your

bat house as guano is a very potent fertilizer and is likely to ‘burn’ plants receiving a large

amount!

Will a bat house attract bats to live in my home?

If bats were attracted to your home they would probably already be roosting there.

I already have a bat house and have had no luck, what's wrong?

It is not uncommon for a bat house to go unoccupied for months or even years, although

the average time for first occupancy is 6 to 12 months. If you feel that the timeline has be-

come excessive, it could be due to the house not being mounted in a good location, direc-

tion, height or it may even be a poor design. Be wary of bat houses that seem small, offer

no ventilation or do not have screened/grooved surfaces giving proper foot holds (roughed wood alone is not an adequate surface). If you have already purchased a bat house that

you suspect is a poor design, try modifying the house by adding the above recommenda-

tions.

How can I tell if bats have found my bat house?

Colonial bats are often noisy throughout the day as they change roost mates or compete for a

favored spot in a roost. Another indication that bats are occupying your bat house is evi-

dence of bat droppings on the landing platform or on the ground beneath the bat house.

Will predators bother bats living in a bat house?

Bat houses mounted on buildings probably offer the safest location from predators. To pre-

vent

animals from climbing, predator guards or tin should always be wrapped around poles that bat houses are mounted on.