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Large single-chamber bat
box
Large triple-chamber bat box
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Bat Box Basics
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Each large single-chamber bat
box
can easily accommodate over 50 bats. The Little Brown Myotis (Myotis
lucifugus), a common Maryland species, eats roughly 2,000 insects every
night. Do the math; that's a lot of insects!
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The 24" x 27" large single-chamber
bat box is constructed using exterior grade plywood, stained dark brown; the
back interior and entire landing area is covered with ¼" HDPE plastic mesh.
It works best when mounted flat against a structure such as a house or chimney.
The cost is $39.95, plus appropriate State sales tax.
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The large three-chamber bat box
is constructed by combining two single-chamber bat houses, allowing for an
additional roofed-chamber between the two. It can easily accommodate over
150 bats. It works best when mounted on poles. The cost is
$99.95, plus appropriate State sales tax.
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Black or Brown?
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At Elk Ridge NatureWorks
on the Allegheny Plateau, we've attracted bats with dark brown boxes. We are
currently testing whether boxes stained black would be more successful in
our immediate area. BCI recommends that you treat bat boxes with a black
paint or stain, if you live in mountainous or northern areas where daily
high temperatures in July average 85o F or less [use a flat
exterior, water-based paint or stain. |
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Become a citizen scientist by
reporting your observations of the bats using your box. Join the Bat House
Research Project of
Bat Conservation
International. |
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Installing Your Bat Box in the
Mid-Atlantic Area
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Mount large single-chamber
bat house on a building or chimney, at least 12 to 20 feet above ground
[higher is better]; mount on poles only if placing two boxes back to
back. |
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Mount large triple-chamber
bat house on poles, at least 12 to 20 feet above ground [higher is better]. |
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Avoid placing bat box on trees [bat
boxes mounted on them are less successful]. |
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Place the bat box at least 25 feet
away from trees to minimize the chance of predators and reduce navigational
obstacles for emerging bats. |
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Position the bat box so that it
receives at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day [at least
ten hours, if on the Allegheny Plateau]. |
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Locate the bat box near a water
source when possible, since most bats prefer houses within a quarter mile of
a stream, river, pond or lake. However, some bats have been reported
occupying houses more than a mile away from water. |
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Refer to the
Bat Conservation International (BCI)
web site for more information on how to attract bats to your bat house,
as well as installation guidelines for different geographic regions. |
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Ten Things You Should Know About
Bats
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Your Elk Ridge NatureWorks
large single-chamber bat box can accommodate over 50 bat guests. |
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A little brown bat (Myotis
lucifugus) eats over 2,000 insects every night; they’re much nicer than
a can of bug spray. |
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In the mid-Atlantic region, the
bats most likely to visit your bat box include the little brown, big brown,
northern myotis, eastern pipistrelle, and evening bat. |
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Bats in our region eat insects that
harm farmers’ crops and insects that bother us (like mosquitoes). |
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Bat droppings (called guano) make
great fertilizer. |
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Bats are the only flying mammals;
they feed their young milk and are covered with fur. |
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Many species of bats have a sonar
system called echolocation; they use it to navigate, avoid obstacles and
chase down juicy moths and crunchy beetles. |
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Bats are not blind and they don’t
get in your hair. |
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Less than one-half of one percent
of bats contract rabies, but use caution and never handle any wild mammals. |
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Bats need friends; join
Bat Conservation
International |
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