Why Homeowners Put Up Bat Houses

Bat houses are specially constructed shelters that give bats a place to roost in between hunting. If you are wondering why anyone would want to put up bat houses on their property, continue reading to find out the top reasons for incorporating them.

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Bats are Ecologically Important

Although bats have a negative stigma as being diseased-ridden rodents that will attack you, the reality is that bats are amazing and graciously-beneficial creatures. In fact, they are mammals, and the only mammalian species capable of flying. Sure, some animals soar, float, or drift on wind currents; but bats actually fly like a bird. Additionally, bats serve a highly-critical ecological purpose, and even contribute to the well-being of our local economies. Here’s how:

🦗 Natural Pest Control – A single bat can consume more than their body weight in insects, in just one night! That averages out to be around 1,000 or more flying mosquitos, gnats, flies, and other insects. Not only does this free and effective pest control help promote more comfortable outdoor environments, it protects crops from pest damage, which in turn helps farmers earn more, and also stimulates the economy.

🌼 Pollination – Bats are major contributors to seasonal pollination, which in turn supports and stimulates our local Eco-systems, but also, improves our crops, forests, woodlands, and gardens. They accomplish this amazing feat by distributing pollen and other types of rich organic matter to meadows, forests, woodlands, fields, farms, and more.

💱 Economy Boosters – With the combination of pest control and pollination, farmers reap exceptional benefits from bats by growing bigger, healthier crops. Healthier, improved crops deliver profits to farmers and to the vendors that sell their crops. This money goes back into the economy, and back into farming, creating a cycle of economic stimulation. It also creates jobs since more help is needed to farm and distribute annual crops.

Bat House Basics

If you wish to safely support the local bat populations, installing a bat house on your property is an excellent contribution. See our blog, “Instructions For Installing a Bat House” to learn what you need to know about procuring a bat house and getting started. You can also benefit from our blog, “Can I Keep a Bat House Up in Winter?” to review the basics surrounding bat house care and maintenance.

It is important to install bat houses carefully, and to follow all best practices for choosing a type of house and a location. Bats can be preyed upon, so you should never hang a bat house on a tree or near a copse of trees. Furthermore, if they get too close, bats can turn into a messy, costly nuisance, which is why you should also never hang a bat house to close to yours.

Nuisance Bat Removal and Control for Kentucky

Call 502-553-7622 to speak a licensed professional regarding bat removal services in Louisville, Kentucky. Our DNR licensed and insured wildlife control experts also offer a wide range of residential and commercial bat cleanup and damage restoration services , including decontamination, fumigation, structural damage repair, preventative maintenance, post checkups, and more. We may also be able to provide bat damage insurance claim work depending on your particular policy and carrier.

Can I Keep a Bat House Up in Winter?

After constructing and installing a bat house earlier this year, you are perhaps concerned about the well-being of your bat houses now that the weather is beginning to turn. Fortunately, Kentucky generally experiences mild weather conditions in the fall, but come winter, temperatures can suddenly drop below freezing, and thus inviting ice, hail, and snow. Bat houses are meant to provide shelter and protection for bats, but in inclement weather like snow and freezing climates, they might not serve a viable purpose.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know about installing and maintain bat houses, year round.

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Bat House Installation Reminders

Whether you have built your own bat house, or purchased a pre-constructed one, you will still be accountable for installing it properly. Double check to see that your bat houses are mounted properly and in the right place. Bat houses should always be mounted on safe structures, such as wooden poles, metal poles, or even on the side of your house or another structure, such as a barn or shed. However, do not install bat houses on trees. If your existing bat houses are currently mounted to trees, it is strongly encouraged to relocate them as soon as possible to an accepted location.

Why You Should Not Mount Bat Homes on Trees:

🌳🚫 Bat houses won’t get enough natural warmth because they receive less sunlight. A bat house needs to get 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day.

🌳🚫 There are several predators and nuisance wildlife that have access or live in trees, putting bats at risk. Instead, place bat houses near a large water source, such as a pond, river, or stream.

🌳🚫 Tree limbs and foliage can obstruct bat house entry/exit points. They should be in a spot that is 20 to 30 feet from branches and other potential obstructions.

✨ See our blog, “Instructions for Installing a Bat House” for details on bat house installation.

Winter Bat House Maintenance

Although you can kept them mounted year-round, you really do not need to worry about your bat houses this winter because bats won’t be needing them. Bat houses are too cold in the winter, and bats would freeze to death. Bat populations native or local to Kentucky migrate to warmer climates in the winter.

Colonies that do not migrate tend to find shelter in our attics, garages, crawl spaces, barns, and more. If you have a bat infestation in or around your property this winter, contact a Louisville bat removal company as soon as possible to prevent more damage and costly repairs.

Louisville Bat Removal Services

Call 502-553-7622 to request a free estimate for emergency bat removal services in Louisville, Kentucky. We offer a wide range of safe and humane bat removal and control services for both residential and commercial properties within Central Kentucky, at the most competitive prices in town. That means you can get affordable bat removal and control you can trust. It was over 30 years of experience under our belts, you can feel confident in our results.

Instructions for Installing a Bat House

Bats can certainly be a nuisance problem if they find their way into our homes and buildings. However, bats also serve a highly important ecological purpose that benefits us, our society, other animals, and the entire surrounding ecosystem. Not only do they consume millions on flying insects (like mosquitoes and gnats) each night, which serves as excellent pest control for us and our crops, their guano helps with pollination, soil fertilization, and more. In turn, the benefits bats offer support our local farming and agriculture enterprises in our communities, and enhances the local economy. They also reduce the quantity of mosquito bites we get on a late summer evening.

If you want to do your part to support local bat populations in your area, you can choose to install a bat house on your property. Continue reading to learn the proper guidelines and recommendations for bat house safety, including instructions on how to install a bat house.

Louisville Bat Removal and Control
Louisville Bat Removal and Control 502-553-7622

Obtaining a Bat House

You can purchase blueprints online and build your own bat house, but only do so if you are a highly familiar with wood work and building. There are many complex and vital factors that must be taken into consideration when constructing a bat house, so it requires a higher level of skill and experience. If you are not a seasoned carpenter, it is recommended to simply purchase a pre-constructed bat house, online or at your local home and garden store. These are already constructed in adherence to all best practices and humane awareness in the industry.

Installing a Bat House

It is important to never install a bat house near your own house or a neighbor’s house. Furthermore, never mount bat houses directly onto trees. Bats, especially pups, are too vulnerable to predators and other dangers if roosting on the side of a tree. Also, the house does not get enough sunlight to keep it warm inside since it is blocked by the tree’s canopy, and tree limbs can get in the way of a bat’s entry and exit point. Instead, mount your bat houses on metal poles, wooden posts, pivot poles, or on a side of a building, like a shed or barn.

To install your bat house, simply follow the manufacturers instructions provided. If you are building your own bat house, follow these tips:

☑ Choose an area that faces either East or South, and receives 6 to 8 hours of sunlight.

☑ Keep the bat house at least 20 to 30 feet away from obstructing branches and tree limbs.

☑ Place the house in a spot near a natural body of water, like a stream, creek, or pond.

☑ Be sure the bat house is 10 to 20 feet off the ground or tallest plant.

Louisville Bat Removal and Control

Call 502-553-7622 for Louisville bat removal and control you can trust. We are DNR licensed and insured bat control contractors who use safe, non-lethal methods of extraction and exclusion. We serve both residential and commercial clients, and at the most competitive prices in town. Emergency 24 hour service is also available. Request a free estimate, today.