bats

[Fritillary]

Hello there

I would like to know if like birds, bats could be helped to stay in our gardens. As we know the populations of them are declining because of insecticides and increasing of urban places. However, their nocturnal habits and their aspect may be less attractive than the birds.

So how we could help them in order their populations dont decline?

Thanks in advance for your information

[nightshade]

Hello fritillary if you Garden for Bats some will find you, but unfortunately they are faithful to roosts (which is why they are under threat) if you put up a bat box or better still a series of boxes,perhaps in conjunction with others nearby,
you could help provide summer roosts or if you are very lucky a nursery,
search the previous threads for more information
The most sucessful boxes are a commercial ones by schwegler one with a front and bottom opening,but any soundly made box has a chance.
plans and details can be found online,www.bat.org, or search the bat groups websites(join a bat group is even better)
If you need any further advice etc. just ask I am still learning but what I know is yours

[Jonny]

I was doing some building work a couple of years back, replacing some timber cladding on an outhouse. The outhouse was only a few years old and the original cladding had been put on poorly and had loads of gaps, hence why I was called in. Anyway, I was pulling off some of the old cladding and noticed a movement, had a closer look and saw a bat, so I called in the bat people and they told me they were wiskered bats and using the outhouse as a nursery. They removed the bats and I finished the job, leaving a gap in one place so they could get back in again. I was surprised because the place was not at all old, so stick up some bat boxes and keep your fingers crossed...............Jon

[Fritillary]

Many thanks for your advice.

Actually I am lucky to live near to a woodland area, sometimes I see the bats catching insects near the lights.

I have been feeding birds but I thought maybe I could do something for these other animals.

Sometimes I think conservation have economical objetives first. I want to say, there is a lot of publicity to feed birds in winter. I agree with that but why there is not any publicity to stop using insecticides? or do houses with some places on the top to bats or swifts, per example?

Well but I consider England is very good in conservation strategies and take care of animals in general. I am from Mexico, and we need to do a lot there....

[henrya]

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I was surprised because the place was not at all old
Endquote

It is a common misconception that bats only like old buildings. They are constantly on the search for new roosts, and have often moved in to the roofs of new houses before the humans have. I recall one report of bats miving into a house before it was built! Work had begun, and for some reason wa stopped, leaving stacks of bricks. When work was resumed, and the bricks were used, it was found that bats were roosting in amongst them!

henrya

[Fritillary]

... maybe it is thought that because in TV or horror films, always there is an old house and the bats (and spiders) appear.
But more than old batiments, they are looking for quite places.

[henrya]

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hello i dont know if there is any way to help keep bats in our gardens
Endquote

The best way to encourage bats into your garden is to make sure there is plenty for them to eat - insects. So a pond is good, as they attract many insect types. Plenty of flowers, especially those that flower at night will also attract insects.

Unless you live in a very isolated area, the bats will probably have enough roost sites - but it is always worth putting up a bat box or two - either on the side of your house, or on trees.

henrya

[Jo Pedder]

I think that bat boxes on south or east facing walls/trees get the best take up, is that right nightshade? Also, is there any guidance on how non-licensed people can get there boxes checked - I know in Bedfordshire the Bat Group are trying to locate all the boxes in the county with the aim to checking them.

[henrya]

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I think that bat boxes on south or east facing walls/trees get the best take up, is that right nightshade?
Endquote

Yes, that's right.

Quote
Also, is there any guidance on how non-licensed people can get there boxes checked
Endquote

Contact your local bat group (see Bat Conservation Trust website) but remember you don't need a licence to look in your box until you find a bat or a bat dropping.

henrya

[nightshade]

Jopedder hello,yes South or West at around 15feet is the suggested height and location,one schwegler box facing south east and hung on the back of a precast garage by a doctor I met recently,had 30 bats in it dont ask me how
they all got in there.Jonny found bats while doing some work on a fairly new roof and I have seen pictures of a roost where some cladding on a factory was slit by a reversing lorry
Occupancy seems to be pot luck and the current advice is put up a box
(a well designed one)in the suggested manner then move it after 2 years if there are no occupants (dont peek use a bat detector)the highest occupancy
rate is the schwegler woodcrete box followed by wedge-shaped ones,dependent on location and bat numbers in the area, as
pips and the other small bats seem to like tight fits back and front.A colony was found behind decorative shutters at one location
I have just been told that someone found them between an old bat boxand the rough stone wall