Mounting Your Bat House
Choose the right mounting surface: Bat houses are generally most successful when mounted on the side of a building or on a sturdy freestanding pole. Buildings made of wood, brick or stone can help stabilize temperatures and retain warmth after sunset. Trees are not recommended because branches and foliage may obstruct the entrance, shade the house and provide predators with easier access.
Mount it high enough: Position the bottom entrance approximately 10–16 feet above the ground. Bats drop downward when leaving a roost, so they need a clear, unobstructed flight path beneath and in front of the house. Keep the surrounding area free of branches, wires and vegetation that could interfere with their approach.
Reduce access for predators: Avoid mounting the house near ledges, branches or other surfaces that cats, raccoons, snakes and other predators could use to reach the entrance. When mounting a house on a wooden pole, a smooth metal predator guard may help discourage climbing animals. Domestic cats should be kept indoors, particularly around dusk when bats are emerging.
Location, Location, Location: Choose a sheltered location that receives adequate sunlight but is not consistently cold, shaded or exposed to strong winds. Morning sun is preferable, and many bat houses benefit from approximately six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. However, too much intense afternoon sun can cause a house to overheat, so sunlight exposure, exterior color and local summer temperatures should all be considered together.
Locate the house away from bright artificial lights, heavy human activity, smoke and other disturbances. Nearby ponds, streams, wetlands, woodland edges and open fields can provide valuable drinking and feeding habitat. An open area beneath and around the house is especially important for young bats that are still developing their flying skills.
Avoid placing a bat house directly above a doorway, patio, walkway, play area or other heavily used space because small amounts of guano may accumulate beneath an occupied house.
Be Patient: Do not be discouraged if bats do not immediately occupy a newly installed house. It may take several seasons—and sometimes as long as five years—for bats to discover and begin using a new roost. Even a house that does not support a maternity colony may occasionally be used by individual bats as a temporary or nighttime resting place.
Once installed, inspect the house from the ground periodically and check it at least once each year for loose mounting hardware, damaged caulk, peeling paint or abandoned wasp nests. Avoid disturbing or opening the house while bats are present.
For more information on bat boxes, visit USFWS "How (and whether) to install bat boxes".
Choose the right mounting surface: Bat houses are generally most successful when mounted on the side of a building or on a sturdy freestanding pole. Buildings made of wood, brick or stone can help stabilize temperatures and retain warmth after sunset. Trees are not recommended because branches and foliage may obstruct the entrance, shade the house and provide predators with easier access.
Mount it high enough: Position the bottom entrance approximately 10–16 feet above the ground. Bats drop downward when leaving a roost, so they need a clear, unobstructed flight path beneath and in front of the house. Keep the surrounding area free of branches, wires and vegetation that could interfere with their approach.
Reduce access for predators: Avoid mounting the house near ledges, branches or other surfaces that cats, raccoons, snakes and other predators could use to reach the entrance. When mounting a house on a wooden pole, a smooth metal predator guard may help discourage climbing animals. Domestic cats should be kept indoors, particularly around dusk when bats are emerging.
Location, Location, Location: Choose a sheltered location that receives adequate sunlight but is not consistently cold, shaded or exposed to strong winds. Morning sun is preferable, and many bat houses benefit from approximately six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. However, too much intense afternoon sun can cause a house to overheat, so sunlight exposure, exterior color and local summer temperatures should all be considered together.
Locate the house away from bright artificial lights, heavy human activity, smoke and other disturbances. Nearby ponds, streams, wetlands, woodland edges and open fields can provide valuable drinking and feeding habitat. An open area beneath and around the house is especially important for young bats that are still developing their flying skills.
Avoid placing a bat house directly above a doorway, patio, walkway, play area or other heavily used space because small amounts of guano may accumulate beneath an occupied house.
Be Patient: Do not be discouraged if bats do not immediately occupy a newly installed house. It may take several seasons—and sometimes as long as five years—for bats to discover and begin using a new roost. Even a house that does not support a maternity colony may occasionally be used by individual bats as a temporary or nighttime resting place.
Once installed, inspect the house from the ground periodically and check it at least once each year for loose mounting hardware, damaged caulk, peeling paint or abandoned wasp nests. Avoid disturbing or opening the house while bats are present.
For more information on bat boxes, visit USFWS "How (and whether) to install bat boxes".
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