Bat Houses are Good for the Garden

When they're not eating insects, bats pollinate the plants in our gardens. With housing development and the ongoing destruction of forests it's harder for bats to find homes in the natural environment. Gardeners who put up bat houses help the bats that help them—it's a mutually beneficial relationship.

Is it good to have bats in your garden?
What are the benefits of having a bat house?
Are bat houses worth it?
Where is the best place to put a bat house?
What do bats hate the most?
What attracts bats to your garden?
What time of year should you put up a bat house?
Is it bad to have bats around your house?
Is bat poop toxic?
Why do bat houses fail?
Do bat houses really help with mosquitoes?
Do bat houses need to be cleaned?

Is it good to have bats in your garden?

These small and fascinating creatures often live in close proximity to us, using our gardens as an important source of food, water and shelter. ... Bats are a sign of a green and healthy environment, so creating a garden that's good for bats will also be good for people.

What are the benefits of having a bat house?

Why are bat houses important?

Bat houses are particularly helpful in providing alternative roosting habitat for bats that are excluded from homes. ...
Installing a bat house on your property can provide a safe environment for bats, while protecting your yard from pest insects, like mosquitoes, moths, and beetles.

Are bat houses worth it?

One thing that is often debated with bat houses is the placement of them. ... But, if this is important to you (we can see why it would be with the mosquito control bats provide your property), it's worth a try. After all, 35% success rates are better than zero.

Where is the best place to put a bat house?

Bat house installation tips

Bat houses should be mounted in an area that gets 6-8 hours of direct sunlight (facing either East or South).
To the extent possible, locate all houses 20 to 30 feet from tree branches or other obstacles and 12 to 20 feet above ground (or above the tallest vegetation beneath the bat house).

What do bats hate the most?

Since their noses are much more sensitive, strong scents tend to scare them off. There are many essential oils available, but the ones that are popular among those who want to get rid of bats are cinnamon, eucalyptus, cloves, mint, and peppermint.

What attracts bats to your garden?

Gardening to attract bats

The key to attracting bats to your garden is to attract their foodstuff. That means planting night-scented flowers such as evening primrose, honeysuckle, and jasmine, all of which will make a huge difference by drawing in night-flying insects for bats to hoover up.

What time of year should you put up a bat house?

Bat houses can be installed at any time of the year, but they are more likely to be used during their first summer if installed before the bats return in spring.

Is it bad to have bats around your house?

Bats may take up residence in your home to raise their young. When they do this, they become a problem on your property, causing damage to your structure and leaving bat droppings throughout your attic and on your home. Although not typical, bats can spread rabies.

Is bat poop toxic?

Histoplasmosis is caused by Histoplasma, a fungus that lives in the soil, particularly where there's a large amount of bird or bat poop. The infection ranges from mild to life-threatening.

Why do bat houses fail?

Bat houses will fail because of poor design, poor construction, and poor placement. Keeping these three key factors in mind can increase the success of having bats move into your new bat house.

Do bat houses really help with mosquitoes?

With fears of Zika and other mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile hitting this summer, bats are touted as an environmentally friendly way to combat the dreaded pests. There's only one problem. Using bats doesn't work -- at least for controlling mosquitoes. ... “Most of the time, bats don't like coming to the houses.

Do bat houses need to be cleaned?

Bat houses are relatively maintenance free, so you should not have to clean your bat house. General maintenance, such as repainting the house, should be done when the bats have left to hibernate for the winter.