Natural Bug Control - Invite a Bat to Supper

No, it's not Halloween, and most of us don't live in Transylvania. Why would we want to invite little Count Dracula to our home? Because bats can quickly take care of your overcrowding of bugs. They do not get the credit they deserve, they are not the little vicious creatures we were brought up to believe they were!

Bats can eat hundreds of insects in just one hour, often consuming thirty to fifty percent of its body weight. Mosquitoes, moths and beetles are bat's favorite h'orderves.

With all the diseases that mosquitoes carry, such as West Nile Virus and EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) both of which can be deadly, who wouldn't want to get rid of their ongoing mosquito overpopulation? Bats are a natural way to do it, and can consume more every night than sprays or insect catchers.

Building and putting up bat houses is one way to increase your bat population. Be prepared to wait though, bats can typically take up to a few years before they will settle into their house. They can be a bit finicky, and once they find a "roost" they will be reluctant to leave, so the results are not guaranteed. It's certainly worth a try though if you're looking to control your bugs naturally.

The temperature is important; ideally, bat houses should receive directly sunlight for at least 10 hours a day, more is better. Place your bat house on poles, or on the side of a building at least twelve feet up. The higher, the better. Houses placed on trees are hard for bats to find, and open them up for being preyed on as well, and try to keep the house away from bright lights.

Like the rest of us, bats need to drink so try to locate your bat house closer to a water source such as a vernal pool, swamp or pond. These are also breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and make it quite tempting for bats to enjoy that area. They like to have a clear "swoop zone" so try not to place the house near anything they can bang their heads on! Ultimately, two or more houses would be the way to go, if they don't like one, chances are they might like another one. (Remember, bats are finicky!)

You'll want to either paint your bat house black, or wrap it in tarpaper so it holds the heat. Be sure to use untreated wood. The chemicals in pressure treated wood can be harmful to bats.

You can do an online search and there are plenty of resources if you'd like to build your own bat houses. Garden centers will also sell them. They are a great, natural way to take care of your environment!