Unfortunately, some species of bats are threatened with extinction. One of the reasons for this is that there are fewer and fewer suitable quarters for the little flying artists. Correctly hung bat boxes serve as replacement homes and can help ensure that the habitat of the protected animals is preserved.
How do you install a bat box correctly?
To properly install a bat box, choose a quiet, weather-protected location that is 3-5 meters high. Align the box southeast to northwest and leave the entry hole free. Secure the box firmly and ensure that it remains undisturbed by outside lighting.
What should a bat box look like?
You can easily build a bat box yourself or buy it commercially:
- It should be made of rough wood so that the animals can hold on well.
- The entry opening must be at the bottom. The insect eaters climb up from here and are protected from predators.
Hanging the box
There are a few points to note here:
- Do not hang the bat box above windows, balconies, house entrances or the seat in the garden. Feces excreted during rest periods do not become a nuisance.
- A quiet, less frequented place that the bats can always fly to is well suited. The place should also be protected from the weather.
- Several boxes in a small group are optimal, as the animals occasionally change their sleeping place.
- Bats prefer if your home faces southeast to northwest. Boxes that point north-east to east are also well received.
- The ideal height is between three and five meters. The entry hole must be clear, because the flying artists like to swarm around it.
- Since the shy animals avoid light, outdoor lighting should not reach the replacement housing.
- Since the dwellings have to be checked regularly, make sure that you can see in unhindered from below.
Strengthen bat roosts very well, as shaky homes will not be accepted. In addition, loosely hung bat boxes run the risk of falling in windy conditions and injuring passers-by.
Tip
It often takes a long time for the flying artists to accept their new apartments. The first traces of droppings usually indicate that a bat has moved in. To check, you can carefully shine a flashlight into the box during the day in the summer months to see if a resident is resting.
