- Bats often migrate to warmer climates during the winter months, although some bats hibernate if their homes provide sufficient protection. In early spring, bats may awaken or return from southern climates, and they begin looking for summer homes. Therefore, the ideal time to construct and place a bat house is March. Often, bats will move into a bat house within 6 months of its construction if you locate it correctly.
- Erecting a bat house will increase the bat population and thus provide substantial insect control. Bats eat enormous quantities of mosquitoes, moths and garden insects. In fact, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a colony of bats with approximately 100 members will consume more than 600 million insects in a 200-day feeding season. When constructed to suit bats' habitat requirements, a typical bat house (approximately 3 feet wide and 14 inches deep) will house 100 bats.
- A female bat seeks a safe location before giving birth to usually only one pup. A securely constructed bat house provides a protected place for the mother and her new offspring.
- Caves, hollow trees, abandoned houses and protected areas beneath bridges are favorable bat nesting areas, but the practice of cutting down trees has eliminated some of these natural homes. By offering bat houses, you may help slow or reverse the decrease in the bat population.
- In addition to providing insect control, bat feces--called "guano"--are a valuable fertilizer that is used in gardening and agriculture in many areas of the world. To collect the guano for personal gardening use, place a shallow container under the bat house.
- Bat Conservation International advises that histoplasmosis, a fungus present in some bat guano, may cause flu-like symptoms if you inhale dust from infected guano. The fungus is more common in bats living in humid, warm climates. In addition, bats can carry the rabies virus; never handle a bat that appears ill or is wandering about in daylight hours.
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