Bats are some of the most interesting creatures you can attract to your property, and since they have a bad reputation with much of the population, everyone who does their part to help these unique flying pals is more than welcome here at The Birdhouse Chick.
However, since they’re not as commonly sought after as hummingbirds and other creatures, you might not know as much about properly attracting them.
There are three main factors to consider: height, location, and the way you install the bat house.
We’ll guide you on exactly where to mount a bat house so you can start welcoming these amazing, furry flyers to your property.
1. Height
Height is crucial when you install a bat house. Bats behave differently from birds, and you can’t just install the house at whatever point you can reach and hope for the best.
It’s recommended that your bat house be 15 to 20 feet off the ground, and that’s for two main reasons.
First, it keeps the bats away from predators. It’s not often depicted in pop culture, but bats are targeted by all kinds of animals. Raccoons, foxes, cats, dogs, and all kinds of other animals can and will attack the bats if they can reach them.
It’s a shame because bats are so important to the ecosystem. They eat huge numbers of insects and help pollinate plants, which makes having them around a real benefit for your yard and the environment.
The other reason is the flight path the bats take. You don’t want them to have to fly out and around a bunch of stuff to get up to the right height and head out. At the 15 to 20 feet mark, the house should be above most obstacles such as sheds, houses, and other things that get in the way of its natural flight path.
2. Location
The location of your bat house is going to greatly affect how successful it is.
The first concern is water. Bats want to be very close to a water source when they roost. If you live within 1500 feet of a pond or similar natural source, you’re good to go.
However, not many people have that luxury. If you don’t have a natural water source, you can create an artificial pond, or you can buy a bird bath. Both of those options are great for bird watchers, too. If you go with the pond option, you can attract birds, bats, and stock it with hardier fish species for a truly special garden experience.
Another key point with the placement of your bat house is that it should be in a wide-open area.
You don’t want trees within 30 feet of the bat house. Bats try to avoid roosting in areas where there are trees due to predators getting easier access to them, and because they need clear flight paths to enter and exit the house.
3. Other Bat House Installation Tips
While the other two sections cover the two main points, there are a few key points we’d like to cover separately.
First, your bat house needs sunlight for 6-8 hours per day. So, we recommend installing it facing the Southeast or Southwest. The point of this is to regulate the temperature in the house.
Another key point is to mount the bat house on the side of your own home or use a pole that can support it. Even if there’s a solitary tree that’s the perfect height, predators will also use that tree.
Get A Beautiful Bat House for Your Home
If you want to start attracting bats, we don’t only serve the bird watching community. We have premium bat houses for sale, too.
Browse our bat houses at The Birdhouse Chick today, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or need further information. We’d be happy to help!
