How to Attract Bats to a Bat House?

Bats, like geckos, are excellent natural pest controllers . These little guys are good friends of humans and are not as evil as rumors say. A surprising statistic: a bat can eat thousands of pests in one night . Imagine how terrible it would be if these pests lived in your garden and yard. More and more gardeners and homeowners have realized the role of bats and installed bat houses around their yards to attract bats to live and help them control pests. If you have also installed a bat house, but haven't seen any visitors yet, don't worry. Here are a few strategies to make your bat house more attractive.

Choose the right location

Bats are very picky about where they roost, and if your bat house is not attracting bats, consider that the location of the bat house is not appropriate.

Bats prefer warm roosts, and you can place your bat house where it receives 6-8 hours of direct sunlight a day, preferably facing south or southeast.

I have seen many bat houses installed in different directions, on barns, in trees, and other places. The smartest place I have seen a bat house installed is above the front door in the attic of a farmhouse where bats have been living for many years.

Perhaps height is also a factor to consider, it is recommended to place the bat house on a pole or building at least 12-20 feet off the ground. This height protects the bats from predators. The height of a farmhouse loft is just right. Note that bats prefer to roost on buildings or other large wooden or concrete structures rather than in trees, so it is not recommended to hang the bat house in a tree.

Also, don’t place your bat house near artificial light sources, as bats prefer dark, secluded areas.

Consider the habits of bats. They prefer to roost near water sources. If there is no water source around your house, build a small pond for them if possible.

Add some scent to your bat house to attract bats

Someone once did a similar comparative experiment, placing two bat boxes in the same location, one with some dry bat droppings and guano, and the other with nothing. After a while, the bat box with the smell of bat droppings already had bats roosting in it. This is enough to prove that certain smells are attractive to bats, and they may determine that this is already a safe and stable habitat based on the smell of bat droppings.

You can try collecting some dried bat droppings from an existing bat roost or purchasing them from a garden supply store. Mix a small amount of droppings with water to make a paste and gently wipe the inside of the bat house. Avoid using too much; excess moisture or buildup can attract pests or mold. Wear a mask and gloves during this process to avoid some potential pathogens.

Some people try to use ammonia or predator urine to mimic the smell of a natural habitat. However, these smells can be too pungent and may repel rather than attract bats. It is best to use natural, familiar scents.

Letting the Bat House "Age" Naturally

Newly installed bat houses often have a strong smell of fresh wood and other artificial odors, which may scare away bats. This is especially true for some bat houses that have painted finishes, but painting is necessary to preserve the wood. To combat these issues, leave the bat house exposed to the elements for a few weeks before installing it. If possible, use untreated cedar or pine, which can naturally blend into the environment that bats prefer.

Make sure your bat house has a proper design

Bats are very particular about their roosting conditions, so the design of the bat house should suit their preferences :

• Multi-chamber : Multi-chamber bat houses are more attractive to bats than single-chamber bat houses.
• Rough interior : Bats need something to hold onto, so make sure the bat house has a rough wooden surface or grooves on the inside.
• Narrow spacing : The width of the chamber should be approximately ¾ inch to 1 inch to provide a comfortable, safe environment.
• Ventilation and Insulation : Proper air circulation is essential. Small ventilation gaps help regulate temperature.

Install more bat houses

The probability of attracting bats to live in a bat house may not be high. You can try to set up more bat houses in different locations to increase the probability of bats finding them. When setting up other bat houses, try to conform to the roosting habits of bats as much as possible, and ensure that there is water and sufficient food nearby.

Conclusion

In general, to attract bats to your bat house, you need to choose the right location to set up the bat house, ensure that there is sufficient sunlight, water, and food, and purchase a well-designed bat house. You can also add some familiar smells to imitate the bat habitat to attract these little guys. These methods can greatly increase the probability of attracting bats. Patiently waiting for a few months to check the bat house may bring unexpected surprises.