Tag Archives: Bat houses tips

Installation Tips for Bat Houses

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Spring is near, so many homeowners are preparing their properties for the onset of wildlife within the local Virginia borders. If you too are a nature lover, and enjoy watching and accommodating the surrounding wildlife around your home, you should consider installing a bat house or two. Not sure if you have a bat population, locally? Well, if you have never seen a bat flying around your house around the time of dusk, or just after the sun sets, then you might not. On the other hand, if you have seen a bat before, you can safely assume there is a thriving population in your area.

But as it is with all wildlife practices around your property, it is important to know what you are doing for the purpose of safety. The same applies to installing and managing bat houses. It is necessary to adhere to certain guidelines in order to protect bats, yourself, and your home from potential bat intrusions.

Continue reading to learn the top installation tips for bat houses, as well as what you should do if you think bats are a nuisance around your home.

Virginia Bat Removal Company 804-729-9097
Virginia Bat Removal Company 804-729-9097

Bat House Construction

You can choose to buy a manufactured bat house, or you can construct your own. If you choose to make your own bat house, be sure you know what you are doing, and use a certified blueprint. Bat houses must be built in a certain fashion to ensure that safety of the bat, and the overall function of the bat house. If you wish to purchase a prefabricated bat house, look at your local garden or home improvement store, or search online at related retailers. You can expect them to come in an array of designs and sizes, and range in price between $12 and $100.

Bat House Location

You cannot place a bat house just anywhere on your property; you must choose a safe and suitable location. Bat houses should be installed on wooden or metal poles, or on the side of a building, like a barn or shed. You should never install bat houses on trees because there is not enough sunlight to adequately warm the house, and it puts bats directly in the path of their predators. Branches and leaves can also cause entrance obstructions, forcing bats to find another place to roost.

Bat House Installation

When mounting your bat house, be sure you choose a location that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of ample sunlight. Select a spot that faces East or South for best results. This will ensure that the house stays warm enough at night for the bats.

Mount bat houses at least 12 to 20 feet above the ground, or the tallest vegetation or tree. Also, be sure your bat houses are mounted at least 30 feet from your home, nearby tree branches, and power lines. This will help divert bats away from your house, and prevent bat infestations and intrusions. It will also help protect them from potential predators.

Do your best to mount your bat house near a natural body of water, like a stream, creek, pond, or river. This will ensure a thriving bat population, year round.

Nuisance Bat Control Tips

If bats are becoming a problem around your property, or you find a bat in the house, immediately separate yourself and your loved ones (including pets) from the vicinity of the bat’s location. Under no circumstance should you attempt to touch or trap a bat. Your next step is to contact a licensed Virginia bat removal company for bat removal and control service.

Got bats in the attic? Found a bat in the house? Need to get rid of bats? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for prompt and professional bat removal and control services you can afford. We serve all of Old Dominion, including Richmond, Roanoke, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and more.

You Might Also Enjoy:

The Ecological Importance of Bats
Which Bats are Native to the State of Virginia?
Do You Have Bats in the Attic?

Virginia Bat Removal and Control
Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

How to Properly Maintain Bat Houses

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In a previous blog, we discussed tips for adding bat houses to your property as an excellent way to safely support the local bat populations in your community. We talked about procurement and construction, installation and mounting, and much more. However, we have yet to provide tips on how to take good care of your bat houses! Fortunately, now is the perfect time to check on yours to ensure it is in good condition.

To get started, continue reading for some helpful tips on how to maintain a bat house.

Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097
Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

What You Will Need:

If you want to take good care of your bat house, you have to start with the right supplies. Be sure to have thick utility gloves, safety goggles, face mask, flashlight, and a pair of scissors. You may not require all of these supplies, but they are the top-recommended ones to have on hand for bat house maintenance.

What To Do:

Never inspect or tend to a bat house when it is occupied. For this reason, it is best to save your bat house inspections for times when bats are not around, like during dusk or at night when they are out hunting for insects.

To take care of a bat house, you want to inspect it on a routine basis. Once a month during active seasons (February through September) is a good schedule to adhere to in the beginning. When you have been caring for your bat house for a while, you’ll learn its needs more, and can change the frequency at which you tend to it each month. In the winter, you will want to check it only once to ensure there are no broken seams in the construction of the house.

Upon inspection, make sure there are no broken seams that can let sunlight in through the roof. If there are cracks or openings, they will need to be repaired. Sunlight can disturb sleeping bats, and cause them a lot of stress. Roofing paper and roof repair sealant are best for such repairs. Be sure the screens, baffles, and interior partitions are intact too.

Also be sure to check for and remove wasp nests at the top of the bat house. They will be gray, honeycomb structures. Although wasps are not a problem for bats, the nests can get too big and disturb their comfort and ability to use the house.

If you see conical nests, these are likely hornets and yellow jackets. As aggressive insects, you will need to remove these nests and implement a preventive treatment to stop them from coming back. Do not use a chemical pesticide that can be poisonous to bats.

If you notice bats sticking out of the bottom of the house throughout the year, it could be due to overcrowding. In this case, you know it is time to add another bat house to your collection.

How to Deal With Nuisance Bat Problems

Sometimes bats can be a nuisance, even though they don’t mean to be. When this happens, trust a licensed and insured Virginia bat removal company for safe and humane bat abatement service at an affordable price. Contact Virginia Bat Pros today at 804-729-9097 to request a free estimate or information about our services, prices, and more. We look forward to delivering affordable and long-lasting solutions for your bat problems!

Virginia Bat Removal and Control