While most people cringe at the thought of a bat in the house (and if you have that problem, Gertens has the solution for you Bat Magic by Bonide repels them), many families across the country are discovering the benefits of sharing their yard with bats. Across the world, bats contribute to fruit and flower pollination, dispersal of seeds, and the control of insect populations. Here in the Midwest, it's more important than ever as we continue to lose our native bats to White-Nose syndrome. The Minnesota DNR offers further information
Bat facts around the world
- Bats save Midwestern farmers between $3.7 billion and $5.3 billion a year in avoided pesticide costs.
- One brown bat can catch and eat around 600 mosquitoes in one hour.
- A colony of 150 big brown bats can eat up to 18 million rootworms during a summer.
- Over 300 species of fruit depend on bats for pollination. Bats help spread seeds for nuts, figs and cacao -- the main ingredient in chocolate. Without bats, we also wouldn’t have plants like agave or the iconic saguaro cactus.
- More bat facts.
It is not always easy to get bats to take up residence in your yard, but if you are successful, the rewards are worth it, especially in terms of insect control. Gertens carries several styles of bat houses as well as books that show you how to build your own bat house.
Attracting bats to your backyard
Bat houses can be put up any time during the year but it’s best to put them up before bats return in spring.
- Design - Do not use pressure-treated plywood.
- Exterior plywood and/or cedar are best. Caulk all seams.
- The exterior color of the house should be dark brown or black.
- Measurements vary, but in general houses should be at least 2 feet tall, 14 inches wide, and have a landing that extends below the entrance 3-6 inches.
- For more information on constructing your own bat house we suggest you consult one of our many books on building homes for wildlife.
- Habitat - Bats generally like to roost within 1/4 mile of water.
- They also like a varied habitat, and the greatest success occurs in areas where bats are known to be present.
- Mounting - Houses should be placed on poles or buildings.
- Putting 2 houses, back to back, on a pole is ideal.
- They should not be placed in an area lit by bright lights
- The house should be at least 12 feet above the ground.
The experts at Gertens are always available to answer your questions!
Photo by Clément Falize on Unsplash