Build Your Own Bat House

In our last post, we gave you 4 reasons why bats are so beneficial for your garden and the local ecosystem as a whole. Now, we’ll share how you can build your very own bat house and start welcoming these high- flying guys into your humble abode.

Get a plan

First, you’ll want to do some research to determine the size, shape and materials to be used for your bat house. You can find great construction ideas on Bat Conservation International and learn tons of awesome facts about bats while you’re at it.

Pick a location

Take careful consideration when deciphering where to build your beautiful bat house. Ideally, go for a spot that receives plenty of sunlight and is at least 15 feet off the ground to keep predators at bay. It’s helpful to have water nearby as well, such as a pond or bird bath. Steer away from mounting your bat house on a tree. Trees make the house easily accessible to predators and branches can complicate entering/exiting. Instead, opt for a wall or pole mount. These spots are safe and a wall will retain heat better.

Different bat house designs

Here are some different designs to consider:

• Single chamber bat house: This is the most common design consisting of a tall, rectangular wooden box. It features one chamber with a roost space for up to 50 bats.
• Multi-Chamber bat house: As the name suggests this is sufficient for holding up to 200 bats with more roosting space.
• Rocket box: This type of house is about 1 m high and is built around a pole. It features several chambers to house many bats, and is known to be a successful design that attracts various species.

Watch the video below to get step-by-step instructions on how to build a simple wooden bat house for your garden!