What Is A Bat House And Why You Might Need One?

Are you scared of bats? You’re not alone. In fact, 1 in 5 people apparently dislike bats (to say the least), even though the winged rodents aren’t as harmful as we make them out to be. While people tend to be generally scared by bats thanks to their ability to fly, the real reason why you should be concerned about bats is that they carry disease.

Bats aren’t overly aggressive by nature, and would much rather prefer flight to fight. So the chances of a bat outright attacking you are quite small. However, bats can and so pose a problem to most homeowners in the United States because of the bacteria they carry.

Exposure to bat feces (also known as guano, which has a highly corrosive nature) can result in infection with rabies, histoplasmosis, and yersiniosis, among others. What’s more, it is believed that the coronavirus spreads from bats, so it might be a good idea to keep them at arm’s length.

What is a bat house?

A bat house is pretty much what you’d guess, an enclosure designed especially to mimic the interior of a tree, with all the little nooks and crannies that might appeal to a bat.

A bat house essentially replicates the natural places where a bat or a colony of bats will choose to roost, and rear their young. Bat houses can be bought, and are available in most specialty stores. There are some quite popular models, like the Rocket Box, for instance, but you can opt for simpler designs, also

You can choose between bat house designs with multiple chambers, or a single chamber, depending on bat population in your area, interests, and of course, budget. You may also opt for building your bat house yourself, if you are of a more DIY bent. There are numerous guides and tutorials online to teach you how to build a safe refuge for bats, without going overboard with your budget.

Why do you need a bat house?

A bat house comes with an array of benefits for property-owners, who may be surprised to learn that keeping bats around can actually be beneficial. While you probably don’t want a colony of bats living directly inside your house because of the infection risk, you shouldn’t attempt to harm or scare off bats, either.

In fact, in many states, bats are protected by law, and you can find yourself in legal hot waters if you attempt to exterminate bats on your property. This is happening, basically, because bats are deemed beneficial for the environment.

The large part of a bat’s diet consists of a variety of harmful insects, such as flies, which are damaging the environment, and are attracted to some types of properties more than others, such as homes that have a water source nearby.

Because bats kill off these harmful insects, it might be smart to keep a few around, and what better way to do that than with a bat box? Visit bathouse.org to learn more about why bat houses may be the next big addition for your home.

Is your property right for a bat house?

Determining whether or not you actually need a bat house can be a tad tricky. You will have to take into consideration the area you live in, and what the bat population is like there. If you’re not sure where to start, you can begin by contacting a local wildlife removal company, like Gray Brothers Wildlife LLC. They are bat specialists who will be able to give you all the information you need on the bats in your area, as well as inspect your property for signs of a bat infestation.

Not only that, a professional wildlife removal company will also be able to advise you on whether or not a bat house might be the best idea for you and your property.

But to sum up, bat houses are great for the bats themselves, as they provide them with a safe and natural-looking habitat. They’re also great for you, as we’ve just seen above. So while you might not be crazy about bats, you might find that bat boxes are actually a good idea.