Bat House Plans

Bat houses should be erected in early April or late March. The most likely occupants are going to be the big brown bat and the little brown bat. All inner surfaces must be roughened with a chisel or saw to permit bats to climb on them with ease. Rough outer surfaces are also preferred. In addition the bat house must be very hot, about 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. To achieve this cover the bat house on top and a few inches down the sides with tar paper or roofing shingles. The dark colors absorb the heat from the sun and help protect the bats from the rain. When putting up the bat house it should mounted 12 to 15 feet above ground, protected from the wind, and oriented to receive the maximum sunlight, preferably on a southeast side of a tree, pole or building.

If bats do not use the houses within a 2 year period then the bat houses should be moved to a different location. Some things that may prevent bats from using them include heavy use of pesticides, a lack of hibernating sites, too great a distance to feeding or drinking sites, or an abundance of available summer roosting sites. Once the houses are occupied they should not be moved or cleaned.

It may be desirable to set up an alternate bat house so they can move from one to the other to regulate their environment.

Below is a graphic of plans for a small bat house you can download free of charge, if you want to undertake a different woodworking project.