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Green Landscaping: Greenacres
Wild Ones Handbook
WHAT EVERY WILD ONE SHOULD KNOW
Wood Projects
"Each of us technology-oriented moderns is, at heart, a citizen of the natural world; and there are easy and practical things we can do to keep it that way." - Durward L. Allen |
Dimensions | ||
---|---|---|
A | Roof | 11" x 10" |
B | Back | 8" x 22" |
C&D | Sides | 8" wide x 22" at back 17 1/4" at front |
E | Front | 8" x 17 1/4" |
F | First partition | 8" x 11" |
G | Second partition | 8" x 12" |
H | Third partition | 8" x 13" |
Space between partitions, front to back: 3/4", 3/4", 1", 1 3/4"
Because bats have lost roosting sites and have been poisoned by pesticides, their numbers have dwindled and some species are endangered. Providing a home for them, not just as a daytime hangout but to make them less vulnerable during hibernation, is one way you can ensure their future. In return, each Little Brown Bat, for instance, will consume up to 600 mosquitoes in one hour.
Locate your bat house near a permanent source of water (ideally within a mile of a stream, lake or marsh), about 12 to 15 feet above the ground on a building, tree or pole - a building will offer the most stable temperature. In cooler parts of the country, orient your bat house to get maximum warmth, especially in the morning (southeast exposure). In warm climates, bat houses should also receive morning sun, but in hot climates they need mid-day shade. If your bat house is not occupied by the end of the second year, try moving it to a new location.
Use untreated, rough-sided lumber and do not use paint as the odor may repel bats. Bats need a rough surface for a secure foothold. If rough-sawn lumber is not available, cut 1/16" horizontal grooves at 1/2" intervals. For further information, contact:
Bat Conservation International
P.O. Box 162603
Austin, TX 78716