Posted on 12/10/2010 12:25:43 PM PST by RadiationRomeo
Bats find houses by sight. If a house in the proper location, meets the requirements and is needed, the bats will move in on their own.
Bat boxes should be hung at least 15’ above the ground— the higher, the better. Research shows that they are more successful if they have at least 8 hours of sun. The morning sun is most important. Bat houses should face the south or southeast. The box shouldn’t be allowed to get to warm either. If the box gets too hot during the day they will abandon it.
In northern areas the top third of the house should be painted brown or black with a latex water base paint to aid in warming the box. This may or may not be needed. I always try the box without any paints first.
In southern parts of the country, the boxes can be painted latex water base white, if there is too much direct sun.
Bat houses mounted 20’ away from trees are inhabited twice as quickly as those in wooded areas.
Take the bat and put it outside, somewhere where you cannot see it while working at the sink.
Then go away.
When you go back it will be gone.
Nature works miracles.
(I hate bats. I had two encounters with them last summer—never had seen one in 50 years before that. They are scary little buggers.)
OK, hope the lil guy makes it! Just don’t forget he is up there and will be active when the temperature in the attic warms back up in the spring.
The Lake Erie Nature and Science Center actually over winters them in a refrigerator set to the optimum temperature. They do wake them every couple of weeks to feed them. LOL!
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