Old Bat Box location-Why they don’t work
Why don’t bat boxes work?
A. The box is too small
B. The bats are picky about paint color
C. Not enough light inside the box
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Answer: A is correct! In Florida, some of our native bats are colony species, which means that they live in family groups. For the species you primarily see here in Tanah Keeta, they have colonies ranging anywhere from a couple to hundreds of bats. Some colony bats, like the Mexican Free-tailed bat, can have colonies as large as almost 20 million! There is a huge range of colony size amongst bat species, meaning that if you install a box that is too small for the species in your area, it won’t be used. It’s always a good idea to research the bat species that live near you. Even if you live in Florida, not all of the species you find here will be in your area, so always check before putting up a bat house. A good place to start is your local Fish and Wildlife website (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) or a local state park or wildlife preserve.
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There are two other major reasons why bat boxes fail besides box size: Incorrect placement, and Human Activity. Let’s explore!
Incorrect placement:
While it may vary depending on species and habitat, bat boxes generally have to be mounted as follows:
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- At least 10-12 feet off the ground so that they are safe from ground predators and are able to take off and land easily
- Close to a body of water (within a fourth of a mile)
- Mounted away from any branches in a tree that would allow predators to have access to the bat house (which is why they are typically mounted on a pole out in the open or in a dead tree)
- Mounted so that they get a certain amount of sunlight during the day (bats need a certain amount of warmth)
- Size of the box matters too, ideally an effective bat box is at least 2 feet tall by 14 inches wide.
- Multichambered houses tend to do better than single chamber
- Painted/stained to help influence temperature (Flat, water based paint or stain)
- Watertight
And that is just general information! For our Floridian bats:
- In South Florida, the exterior of the box should be painted a light brown or gray to help reflect heat, especially if it gets a lot of sun exposure. In North Florida, the exterior should be painted a darker brown or gray, especially if the box is in a place where it gets less sun
- Vents are more important in Florida boxes due to high temperatures, so boxes should have more than one vent (see plans)
If a bat house is misplaced, the bats will not move into it, which is again why research is so important. Many bat house plans have placement instructions included with them, which is a great place to start. Definitely be sure to check for specific information for where you live before installing the bat box though, as the plans might detail instructions for a different area rather than yours.
The UF IFAS article linked below is a good starting point for research, as it has a lot of general information, as well as Florida specific recommendations.
UF IFAS: Effective Bat Houses for Florida
Human Activity:
While going hand in hand with box placement, human activity is another big reason why bats don’t move into a bat box. Bats are wild animals, they don’t want anything to do with us, so placing your bat box in an area where there is a lot of human traffic (i.e., right next to a pathway or road) is not the best. Putting a bat box somewhere less central to human activity increases the chances that the box will be successful.
- NOTE: Even when a bat box is put up correctly, avoiding all of the major mistakes outlined in this section, sometimes a bat box doesn’t work. So why do we put them up? Well, by giving the bats options we are still aiding in the conservation and preservation of bat species. So while they may not be used, they are still a part of the effort to help these animals, making their installment invaluable. Plus, they can provide habitat to other animals too, so even if bats don’t use them, something will!
- Another, even more important thing to keep in mind is that a bat box won’t be inhabited immediately, it can take years for bats to find the boxes and decide that they want to roost in them.
Directions:
To get to Bat House 7, continue north on Range road to the Ranges. Once there, head west towards Archery. You'll find Bat House 7 on a snag (dead tree) between Shotgun and Archery.