Make a house for bats with your own hands. Bats have new homes! General principles for making nest boxes

House requirements:

1) It should be attached to a tree trunk or the wall of a building
2) The size of the house must correspond to the size of the species bats that live in your area and that you want to attract.
3) Summer houses for mice differ in design from winter houses.
4) All houses should be made from non-toxic materials. The bats prefer the wood of old trees; houses made of fresh boards have no chance of attracting these bats.

House location:

On the pole:
The pole with the house is located in a place where bats traditionally feed, protected from strong winds and located on the sunny side. Bats themselves do not build or equip nests. They occupy warm places, pregnant females and young animals prefer shelters heated by the sun. The ideal design would be two or three houses located in one place and facing the different sides light: southeast, south, southwest, so that the sun illuminates them in different time day. During the hottest part of the day, the southern lodge may become overheated, but other refuges will remain cooler, and the bats will move there. The house should be located near a place protected by trees or bushes. Animals need natural barriers as navigation to determine their route between their daytime roosting area and the hunting area.

On the tree:
The higher you place the house, the better; optimal heights are 1.5 – 6 m. Most species prefer high-standing houses. but only brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus do not climb higher than 1.5 m above the ground.

On the wall of the building:
Place the houses as high as possible in places. inaccessible to cats, and always on the sunny side. The northern and northeastern sides are not suitable for this. Options for placing bat houses include barns, other agricultural buildings and garden fences. The requirement is the same: an acceptable height above the ground. inaccessibility for cats and sunny side. How many houses to hang? It is preferable to have two or three, but only if all the essential requirements for arranging the house are met. and hanging one house can attract bats. It all depends on what type of mice lives in the area. the optimal option would be three houses located on three cardinal directions (all southern). located on the trunk of a large tree.

Preference is given to coniferous trees. Bats do not colonize the house immediately It may take several years before bats decide to colonize the house. You should be patient while waiting for them. The house should not be located near the usual places where bats live - these could be dry or old hollow trees or the roofs of a building, because bats do not leave their usual habitat. In addition, the house should not be made of fresh boards, but of old wood, similar in structure to those trees where mice usually live in nature. If bats appear in the house, you should not visit them. to check. how its inhabitants were located. When intervening, it is easy to injure bats. the fact that inhabitants have appeared in the house can be judged by the appearance of droppings and urine. An hour after sunset, bats fly out of the house to hunt for insects at night.

11 species of bats usually occupy houses if there are not enough natural shelters in nature suitable for habitation (dry and hollow trees). 6 species (Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Rufous noctule Nyctalus noctula, Lesser noctule Nyctalus leisleri, Natterer's bat Myotis nattereri, Water bat Myotis daubentonii and Brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus) breed in the houses. In addition, the houses serve as mating places for bats.

Summer houses
larger in size because they are intended for a colony consisting of a female and her offspring and must provide warmth. Bats can live in such houses all year round, with the exception of the cold season, when the temperature drops below -4°.

It is recommended to make houses
from soft wood. No processing chemicals not allowed. The service life of the house is 10 years. The thickness of the board is 2.5 cm. The tap hole is 15 - 20 mm, it is located below, at the base of the house. The surface of the tree, inside and out, is not treated, since bats crawl throughout the house, examining it for suitability for habitation. the houses are glued together with waterproof glue, nailed together or secured with screws. Use nails with a small head or cut off the head altogether.

Location of the houses
The house is located in a place where bats traditionally feed - near a forest or park, swamp, river or pond. The place should be protected from strong winds and located on the sunny side. It should be ensured that there is unimpeded access to the location of the house, that is, bats should not bump into foreign objects while flying home. Bats themselves do not build or equip nests. They occupy warm places; pregnant females and young animals prefer shelters heated by the sun. The ideal design would be two or three houses located in one place and facing different directions of the world: southeast, south, southwest, so that the sun illuminates them at different times of the day. During the hottest part of the day, the southern lodge may become overheated, but other shelters will remain cooler, and the bats will move there. The house should be located near a place protected by trees or bushes. Animals need natural barriers as navigation to determine their route between their daytime roosting area and the hunting area.

Watching a bat house
It should be remembered that during the period from June to mid-August, bats give birth to their young and feed them with milk, so during this time it is better to refuse to observe bats and not to disturb them. In the house, the bats hang attached to the lid, so you can open the top of the house only when there are no mice there, or you can shake them off the lid, otherwise you can get your paw caught and injure the mouse. Some houses open from the side; this is more convenient for viewing the house, but more difficult to manufacture.

Houses for wintering should be insulated. They are made from a hollowed out tree trunk or simply summer houses upholstered with 100 mm planks of thin wood, between the walls of the house and the plank there is thermal insulation material. Houses can be made from cement and particle board - they are more durable.

Bats eat insects. These are the only ones natural enemies many harmful insects, including mosquitoes, forest and agricultural pests. One bat eats up to 500-1000 insects in an hour.

In nature, bats live in hollows, caves, attics and basements of human buildings, under the peeling bark of old trees and in other sheltered places. Where there are no caves, attics and basements are isolated, and the forests are young and there are no trees with hollows, the mouse population is declining, they need help.

History of interaction

June 2013: tried to feed two mice, unsuccessfully.
March 2015: we held a bird day, made and hung 34 houses for bats in the settlement.
August 2016: a colony of mice was discovered in one house.

Placement of artificial dwellings

Mouse houses (sometimes called nest boxes) are installed in trees, under the roofs of houses, or on special poles. In forests good place are young monoculture plantings in which there are no natural habitat conditions. They hang houses in groups of 10-20 pieces with a step of 50-120 meters along the roads, coastlines, protective forest belts. It is useful to place 2-3 houses on one tree at once: mice like to move between them during the day, choosing the optimal one temperature regime. It is recommended to use houses of different designs so that mice different types there was a choice.

Mice are more likely to inhabit dwellings located near feeding areas. Mice feed in open spaces or above trees, clearings and roads (depending on the species). In nature, they usually prefer to live on the edges and near bodies of water.

The higher the home is located, the better. The height must be at least 4-5 meters, and 1.5-2 meters under the dwelling must be free from obstacles. This is due to the fact that mice cannot take off: they first fall out of the nest, then begin to flap their wings. The presence of obstacles (branches, birdhouses) will lead to injury.

It is advisable to protect housing from strong winds. They must be exposed to the sun for at least 6 hours a day. Usually located on the south and southwest sides.

Mice need time to find and explore a new home. This may take up to several years, so be patient. Signs of occupation are traces of guano under the dwelling and traces of urine on its lower part. Mice are attached to their habitat, so if the home is inhabited, it will most likely be for a long time. If the house has not been occupied in three years, it should be moved.

Neither mouse nests nor birdhouses should under any circumstances be secured to wood with nails. By doing this you harm the tree and shorten its life. Use rope, wire (putting soft material under it).

It would be a good idea to number all the dwellings and save their coordinates for observation. Note the rate of settlement, height, orientation to the cardinal points, type of tree, proximity to water, to people, to open space, other factors.

Skrzynki dla nietoperzy (Polish)

General manufacturing principles

Mice do not like drafts and prefer insulated homes with constant temperature and humidity. They need a rough surface to grab onto; planed board is not suitable. Many antiseptics kill bats, so the inside of the home should not be covered with anything. The entrance should be 15-20 mm thick: this is enough for mice to get through, but not enough for predators to get through.

It is advisable to seal the cracks with sealant or lay a natural sealant during assembly. The outside of the house can be painted with dark brown or dark green paint in two layers, it will last longer.

Living areas should be made no thicker than 20 mm, otherwise wasps may settle in them.

On vertical surfaces, cuts should be made 2 mm deep in 10 mm increments. Instead, you can staple a durable synthetic mesh, but this option is less durable. You can treat the surfaces with a rasp.

Simple bat box

The simplest dwelling looks like a birdhouse. The dimensions can be any, only the width of the entrance slot is important: from 15 to 20 mm.

Kent box

This design was developed by the City of Kent Bat Working Group, hence the name. This is a small house with two sections for mice different sizes. This house is too small for breeding, so a colony of pregnant females will not live in it, but it is a good roosting and resting place. A house of this design does not accumulate waste and requires virtually no maintenance.

It is made from a simple edged board 25 mm thick and 200 mm wide. The thickness of the small chamber is 10 mm, the large one is 20 mm. The side slats can be cut from the board using a circular saw, and the extra millimeters can be removed with a plane. It takes approximately 1.6 meters of board and 25 screws to make one dwelling. It is recommended to drill holes for self-tapping screws, otherwise the board may crack under the influence weather conditions and the house will fall into disrepair.

The thickness of residential zone gaps should be no more than 25 mm. This is the only critical parameter. The remaining dimensions are approximate and can be changed without deteriorating the design characteristics.

Instructions, description (Bat Conservation Trust)

Kindergarten (nursery)

Bats mate during the winter. Pregnant females gather in dense groups in the spring to maintain maximum warmth, males live separately - wherever necessary. Not every dwelling is suitable for reproduction: it must be of a certain size. The height should be about 60 cm, width - at least 35 cm, seat - 7-15 cm. Section thickness - 15-25 mm. Ventilation cuts 10-12 mm thick are made on the front cover. Round holes are made on the internal partitions so that animals can move between the chambers.

For the manufacture of front and back covers and partitions, plywood with a thickness of 10-12 mm is best suited; for side walls - a 25 mm board. One standard sheet of plywood (150x150 cm) is enough for one three-section house measuring 75x75 cm (when manufactured even number houses can be saved due to thinner internal partitions). For external walls, you can also use tongue and groove boards. Before painting, all cracks should be sealed with elastic sealant; you can use jute or flax fiber, tow, or twine.

It is recommended to place such houses half a kilometer from water or other places rich in food. Preferably 7-10 meters from large trees, on poles or buildings, at a height of 3-5 m. When installing on a pole (pole, beam, log), it is better to strengthen it with guy ropes so that it does not fall down by the wind.

Such houses are inhabited by night bats, nocturnal bats and long-eared bats. This is the most important type of house for increasing bat populations.

Large nursery box, Maryland DoNR.

Rocket box

Such houses are installed on a beam dug into the ground, supported by guy wires. The house consists of two chambers, between which there are passages. Animals can move between compartments and around, choosing the direction of light and temperature. This type of housing is considered very efficient.

Installed on 100 mm timber. The inner casing is made from a 100 mm board, the partition from a 150 mm board, and the outer casing - 200 mm. The number of compartments may vary. The height of the inner section is usually 1 meter, each subsequent one is 5-7 cm shorter.

Install at a distance of 7-10 meters from the nearest large trees.

PS: you can make the design much simpler: with one chamber, and assemble it directly on the beam. This greatly reduces material consumption. How the mice will react is unknown.

If you are installing houses for bats, write to us, we will draw up a map, and we will organize the movement.

Bat house

Our country is inhabited exclusively by insectivorous bats. But one such mouse can eat up to 3,000 mosquitoes and other insects per night, which is about a third of their own weight. And if you have a whole small colony living on your property, the arithmetic is simple. So we can say that bats take from birds night shift to protect the garden and you and me. And it’s not just that... To see how, with the onset of dusk, these little insectivorous hunters silently and swiftly leave their shelter and cross the darkening sky - it’s like peeking into a world of night that is alien to us and breaking away from your usual ideas at least for a short time.

House installation

A very important question, because... it depends on whether the bats will want to take advantage of the fruits of your efforts. It is better to provide mice with several artificial hiding places so that they have a choice. The houses can be hung on the walls of any building or on trees (in a group around the trunk) to a height of 3 meters or higher. Some experts believe that preference should be given coniferous trees. Arrange the houses in such a way that:

– the branches did not block the approach,

– at night no light from the lanterns fell on the house,

– during the day it would definitely be warmed by the sun. Therefore, orientation to the north and northeast is not suitable,

– it is advisable that there is a body of water nearby, because water attracts insects.

Observation and care

First, wait until small tenants move in. Sometimes this does not happen quickly - the houses may remain empty for a year or two. You will learn about the appearance of residents by the traces of their vital activity (droppings from the entrances) or you will see bats as they fly out to hunt. Sometimes you can hear the sounds of fussing and squeaking. But do not rush to show curiosity after this and look into the house - the animals may not like such an intrusion, and they will leave the shelter. The houses can be carefully inspected during twilight hours, when the bats have flown off to hunt, or outside the breeding season, which occurs from June to mid-August. IN artificial nesting site a small colony of 10–35 bats is formed. When the adults fly off to hunt, the kids stay to wait for their mothers. Pregnant females tend to choose houses that are warmed by the sun, but if the shelter becomes too hot, the colony may move to a cooler shelter that is in the shade. Animals can also change housing for hygienic reasons. Then the abandoned house needs to be cleaned using a wire hook. By the way, bat droppings are considered one of the best fertilizers for plants.

Why hang a house for bats?..

Our country is inhabited exclusively by insectivorous bats. But one such mouse can eat up to 3,000 mosquitoes and other insects per night, about a third of its own weight. And if you have a whole small colony living on your property, the arithmetic is simple. So we can say that bats take over the night shift from birds to protect the garden and you and me. And it’s not just that... To see how, with the onset of dusk, these little insectivorous hunters silently and swiftly leave their shelter and cross the darkening sky - it’s like peeking into a world of night that is alien to us and breaking away from your usual ideas at least for a short time. Very refreshing! And everything about the big, all-powerful one remains valid, since it’s also not easy for bats to live in modern world. Culling diseased trees in forests and parks deprives them of natural shelters in hollows. And bats will thank us for our help in solving the housing problem by the very fact of their existence next to us on the planet.

How to make a house for bat hunters?

Houses for bats can be of different designs, but when creating them you must follow several general rules, taking into account comfort in the mouse sense.

– The inner surface should be rough (untreated wood) or have horizontal notches so that the animals can catch with their claws and hang upside down in their usual position.
– The entrance-tap in the form of a hole or slot is located at the bottom. In addition, the hole is located near the trunk or other surface on which the house is attached. This will make it easier for mice to return home.
– The house is made from non-toxic materials; no chemical treatment is allowed. Mice prefer housing made from old softwood and will not move into a house made from fresh boards. The thickness of the board is 2.5 cm. The tap hole is 15–20 mm.

What is the best way to place a bat house?

A very important question, because... it depends on whether the bats will want to take advantage of the fruits of your efforts. It is better to provide mice with several artificial hiding places so that they have a choice. The houses can be hung on the walls of any building or on trees (in a group around the trunk) to a height of 3 meters or higher. Some experts believe that preference should be given to coniferous trees. Arrange the houses in such a way that

– the branches did not block the approach,
– at night no light from the lanterns fell on the house,
– during the day it would definitely be warmed by the sun. Therefore, orientation to the north and northeast is not suitable,
– it is advisable that there is a body of water nearby, because water attracts insects.

Bats, in addition to being extremely cute and defenseless creatures, bring invaluable benefits to humans!
Remember the famous line from Pushkin’s poem:
"Oh, red summer! I wish I loved you,
If only it weren’t for the heat, the dust, the mosquitoes, and the flies.”
How many unpleasant moments in a beautiful summer time These ubiquitous insects bring us! And here bats come to our rescue.
One bat can eat 500 to 1000 mosquitoes in one hour!
Repellents and fumigators nervously smoke on the sidelines.
So, by hanging a bat house in your dacha, you will ensure yourself comfortable evenings on the veranda for a long time.

In addition to the above, I would like to provide information disseminated by Zhigulevsky state reserve about the situation around the bat population in the Samara region:
"There are 15 species of bats in the Samara region. These small mammals are very useful and need our protection. The main threat of a widespread decline in their numbers is associated with the cutting down of old hollow trees and the growing shortage of natural shelters in which animals breed their offspring. The number of 6 species, included in the regional Red Book, has reached a dangerously low level. They cannot survive without our help!
To help bats survive, it is necessary to improve their living conditions. Animals can be attracted to areas that have become unsuitable using artificial houses. In cities, the most attractive places for them to live are old parks with ponds, the private sector and suburban forests. Such work to preserve diversity and increase the sustainability of bat populations Zhigulevsky biosphere reserve conducts on Samarskaya Luka the project “Coast of Bats”. We have already installed 200 wooden houses on the urbanized territory of the Zhiguli coast. Attracting bats to garden plots V rural areas may be particularly successful and useful in controlling insect pests.
If you join our project, we can save bats from extinction in our region!"

Making similar houses abroad is already a common practice. At the same time, the designs of houses can be very diverse:

However, there are features that must be taken into account:
- the inner surface should be untreated and rough so that it is easy for mice to cling with their claws, the best option- plastic mesh.
- There should be no cracks in the house; they must be carefully filled.
- The distance between the front and back walls should not exceed 2.5-3 cm.
- The house must be installed on the sunny side at least 5 m. A trunk is best suited for this large tree or the wall of a building.

A simple bat house design that I recommend can be found on the Organization for bat conservation website.

To build you will need:
- plywood, thickness from 1 to 1.5 cm;
- wooden blocks with a section of 2.5x4 cm and 2.5x8 cm;
- stain to protect the structure from moisture;
- sealant or wood putty;
- plastic mesh;
- screws and staples for a construction stapler.

Dimensions of parts and drawing of the house (there is no plastic mesh in the drawing, which is placed on a stapler on both walls of the inner surface, it is better to use it):

Download the drawing in large size.