Rather than spraying chemicals, bats can control insects naturally. One brown bat can eat 3,000 to 7,000 mosquitoes in a single evening. And mosquitoes aren’t the only insect they eat.
Attracting bats is a great way to cut down on insects. These winged creatures are declining in numbers in North America because their habitats are being destroyed. Putting up a bat house in your garden might do two things: control your insect population and help save the bats.
Bat houses are open at the bottom and have a roof over the top. They’re rough inside so the critters have something to hold onto. Each house has a few narrow compartments, or roosting chambers, inside. These roosting chambers are about 1 inch wide.
Bats like it warm, but not too warm. In general, if your summer’s average high temperatures are below 95 degrees, choose a dark-colored paint. And if your summer’s average temperatures are 95 degrees or higher, use a light-colored paint. Mount the house where it will get four hours of morning sun.
Since bats tend to hang out near bodies of water, a location within ¼ mile of a stream, pond or river is perfect. But if you don’t live near water, don’t let it discourage you. Hang your bat house (or a couple of them) about 15 feet high in a sunny spot and see what happens. Bats seem to like houses mounted on poles or buildings better than those on trees. Issue 91 Bring In the Bats!
Rather than spraying chemicals, bats can control insects naturally. One brown bat can eat 3,000 to 7,000 mosquitoes in a single evening. And mosquitoes aren’t the only insect they eat.
Attracting bats is a great way to cut down on insects. These winged creatures are declining in numbers in North America because their habitats are being destroyed. Putting up a bat house in your garden might do two things: control your insect population and help save the bats.
Bat houses are open at the bottom and have a roof over the top. They’re rough inside so the critters have something to hold onto. Each house has a few narrow compartments, or roosting chambers, inside. These roosting chambers are about 1 inch wide.
Bats like it warm, but not too warm. In general, if your summer’s average high temperatures are below 95 degrees, choose a dark-colored paint. And if your summer’s average temperatures are 95 degrees or higher, use a light-colored paint. Mount the house where it will get four hours of morning sun.
Since bats tend to hang out near bodies of water, a location within ¼ mile of a stream, pond or river is perfect. But if you don’t live near water, don’t let it discourage you. Hang your bat house (or a couple of them) about 15 feet high in a sunny spot and see what happens. Bats seem to like houses mounted on poles or buildings better than those on trees.