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Jamey Emmert, her husband and their son built a house for bats two and a quarter years ago. The bat house was empty until a brown little bat called Wyclef moved into it this spring.
Emmert stated, “We were delighted to have him living with us.”
Bat houses are useful for bats that hibernate from November through March in caves and rock crevices. They need somewhere to rest during the day to hunt insects and a place at night to sleep.
Emmert, a wildlife communication specialist with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, occasionally conducts workshops on how to build small bat homes from kits. The couple received a large bat house with many chambers, which resembled a bat apartment. Wyclef chose this option because little brown bats are loners who don’t enjoy sharing a room.
Specifications
Wyclef’s decor is bat friendly, so he can spend the day snoozing on his back. It is textured or scored so that bats will be able to dig into it and hold on.
The bat house in the human home was located next to an attic vent, because bats require some height before they are able to fly. Emmert suggested bat houses should be placed at least 15 feet above the floor.
Bat houses also have an opening at the bottom, not the top like birdhouses. Emmert explained that when Wyclef wants to go hunting for bugs after dark, it’s usually around 9 pm on summer nights. He “flings him out the bottom opening, then drops, turns and comes back up,” Emmert added.
She says that bat houses need to face either east or south-east to prevent getting too warm in the afternoon. It is important that there are no trees, plants, or other obstructions in front of your bat house to allow the resident bats access.
The South prefers reflective white, while Canada favors darker shades to help absorb heat. Ohio’s temperatures are mild for about three quarters of the time, so neutral grey or greenish gray will work well.
Bat Conservation International also has a vendor list that includes approved companies who offer bat house kits and bat houses already assembled. The Bat Conservation & Management Organization sells bat houses that have one to four rooms. They also offer “rocket boxes” which look like dead trees.
Bat-friendly gardening
Homeowners can also help bats by growing native plants which attract insects that drink nectar, like moths. In “Gardening for Moths, A Regional Guide”, by Jim McCormac & Chelsea Gottfried, they recommend Culver’s root (also known as spiderwort), evening primrose or Culver’s root.
Bats also need water but not a birdbath. The bats don’t land in order to drink water, they float and sip while still flying. This means that a long-enough pond or stream is needed for their flight plan.
Emmert stated, “Humans need bats and bats need humans.” You’ll save many other species by protecting bat populations.
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