For whatever reason, if you love bats, then you’re going to want to build a nice large multi chamber wooden bat house (we recommend building one from cedar).
Before we go into details on building a nice little bat house, there are some things we would like to cover. Starting out with why you should build a bat house in the first place.
Why Build a Bat House?
When people think of bats, they think of dark caves, but this isn’t the only place bats live. Some bats spend their winter months in caves, but most of the summer, they live under bridges, hanging from trees, and in abandoned buildings. You goal here would be to make a bat house that is mimics the space that is between a tree trunk and the bark – this would be the ideal nursery for a bat. This is why the space that is inside of the bat house is narrow, unlike other bird houses, which would hold a nest. Long story short, bats love tight spaces and they also need a warm spot for their babies. For this reason, we choose to pain our boxes a dark brown color, and caulk the sides in order to keep the heat inside. We also recommend using a saw in order to “rough” up the inside of the box, because this will make it easier for the bats to climb up.
How to Build a Bat House
Supplies Needed:
• ¼ Sheet of plywood. Don’t use pressure treated wood.
• 20-30 1 ¼” exterior-grade Phillips screws
• One piece of 1” x 2” x 8’ Cedar
• One pint dark, water-based stain
• One quart of flat-water based paint
• 1” x 3” x 28” board for the roof
• Black asphalt shingles
• One tube of latex caulk
• 6-10 roofing nails
Tools Needed:
• Caulking gun
• Table saw (a handsaw will work)
• Paintbrushes
• Variable speed reversing drill
• Phillips bit for the drill
• Scissors
• Staple gun
• Tape measure
Step 1: Print out a bat house construction plan, or make one of your own.
Step 2: Wood Cutting
Take the wood and measure and mark where you need to cut it, according to your plan. Make sure you clamp it down to sturdy it.
Step 3: Put Grooves on the Back Piece
This is the most difficult part of making the bat house, but it just so happens to be the most important. The goal here is to take the smooth wood and roughen it up so that the bats can easily crawl into the house. You can do this by cutting grooves throughout the wood. Some choose to staple sturdy mesh to the backboard.
Step 3: Staining the Inside
It’s no secret that bats enjoy darkness inside their homes, so it is important that you stain the inside parts a dark brown color. Personally, we like the walnut stain, because it is the darkest one we could find in the store. Apply two coats of stain.
Step 4: Caulking and Screwing on the Sides
Now it is time to screw on the sides and caulk them to keep it sealed. Go for the type of caulk that can be painted over.
Step 5: Caulk and Screw on the Top
Now you can attach the top two pieces of wood. First caulk them in order to ensure a nice snug fit, then screw it together.
Step 6: Prime and Paint the House
Now it’s time to prime and paint the house in order to ensure it lasts a long time.
When it’s all dry, go out and mount the bat house. Bat houses should be mounted on buildings or poles that offer the best protection away from predators. Buildings that offer good solar exposure are great choices, but make sure you mount them at least 12 feet above the ground.
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