Bat Boxes

Was wondering if anyone every made any, and also should I go with regular lumber or can I go with treated lumber???

Dan

Probably should use treated lumber. They won't eat the ood, so they won't get sick from it. But their guano will attract alot of bugs to it, so the treated lumber will last alot longer.

Bat house plans....
http://www.eparks.org/wildlife_protecti ... _house.asp

I made all of mine with cedar.

I went with untreated. My boxes are in great shape after many years of use.

Here's my concern, maybe completely stupid: bats use these as nurseries and the chemicals might not be good for them. Mammals tend to have a good sense of smell and I was concerned that the mama bats might not like or trust the odor of the treated wood.

bksaun wrote:Can I get one big enough for my wife and her mother?
Bk

SURE!!!! Something like the Bat Cave??

Thanks for the tips, but my "old bat" wouldn't go in one... lol

I wouldn't use treated lumber. You're doing this to be kind to the bats, why subject them to chemicals? Cedar is an excellent choice.

Make sure you place the bat house at the proper height and on the proper wall. At the moment I can't remember, but I'm thinking north or northwest wall, 12 to 16 feet up....but check on that. I know if they're not placed correctly you won't get a renter.

Freddy wrote:I I'm thinking north or northwest wall, 12 to 16 feet up

Northwest, exactly 16' up, worked perfect for us. Keep in mind, they'll poop on whatever is below them.

South to southeast wall if you are in the North part of the US (the bat house should get full sun ASAP in the AM) and paint a dark color. Mounting on trees is not as good as mounting on a building or pole. They need a clear path to the bottom entrance of the bat house (no tree branches, etc).
Best resource on the web: http://www.batcon.org/index.php/get-involved/install-a-bat-house/subcategory.html?layout=subcategory

BD

My bat boxes are facing south and all in trees. It seem to take a few months before I noticed bat poop at the base of the trees.

I don`t know about the tree branches bothering them, I live next to a forest of southern pines that are the natural home of choice (I was told by a park ranger) & they sure do like my neighbors log home hes spent an aweful lot of $ trying to keep them away.

Why would you want bats around?

they eat all the bugs

ken wrote:Why would you want bats around?

Bats are a friend of man,great at insect control but misunderstood.





ry