Building Bat Houses

By Dale Galfand

Did you know that the course of a summer, a colony of Big Brown Bats will consume 38,000 cucumber beetles, 16,000 June bugs, 19,000 stinkbugs, and 50,000 leafhoppers while preventing 18 million corn rootworms from ever seeing the light of day by consuming the beetle stage of this insect pest?

In this booklet you'll learn about a bat's role as an insect predator, pollinator and seed disperser. Tips on sealing your home against bats.

Plans and design details for several types of bat houses Ideas for attracting bats.

Softback. 32 pages. Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin.

Readers can use the booklet to compare basic bat-house designs, select an appropriate mounting site, and understand why chamber dimensions, rough interior surfaces, sun exposure, and predator access matter. Local bat species and climate affect occupancy, so pair the construction guidance with recommendations from a regional wildlife agency or bat-conservation organization. A new house may require patience and does not replace habitat protection.

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