| Bats are the animal kingdom's only flying | | | | receive at least seven hours of direct |
| mammal and they are nocturnal (active mostly | | | | sunlight. |
| at night). They are quite social, roosting in | | | | |
| sites where they can group together, and eat | | | | Also, bats are more likely to choose a box |
| hundreds of insects per night to maintain the | | | | that is within 1500 feet of a permanent |
| energy they need. | | | | stream or water supply, as bats need plenty |
| | | | of water. Another consideration is to locate |
| Although many find bats to be intriguing and | | | | the box within 30 yards of a tree line to |
| even beautiful creatures, they should | | | | provide cover from predators. |
| actually never be kept as pets. When we keep | | | | |
| pets, we want to provide them with comfort | | | | It is also important to note that the bat box |
| and love, helping them grow to their full | | | | will be primarily used only during the summer |
| potential. When bats are kept as pets, | | | | months by bats, and that if the box is |
| though, they live in great terror and stress | | | | disturbed in any way during the first summer |
| and lose their right to reproduce. Wild bats | | | | of its placement, the animals may not return. |
| live over 25 years, but bats kept as pets | | | | When they choose a roosting place, though, |
| rarely live longer than one year. | | | | they are likely to be annual visitors. |
| | | | |
| (In addition to this, there are several laws | | | | Bat houses were actually first invented in |
| protecting bats from being kept as pets.) | | | | Pennsylvania and are used for a variety of |
| | | | reasons. They provide low maintenance, |
| While bats cannot be kept as pets, there are | | | | environmentally friendly insect control, and |
| ways to provide for them. One of these is by | | | | they can be used to coax bats out of areas |
| building a bat box which can work as an | | | | where they are causing a problem. They also |
| alternate roost for bats. There are many | | | | create a great opportunity for those wishing |
| varieties of kits available for you to buy | | | | to be able to keep the animals as pets - you |
| with instructions on how to build it. After | | | | can view the interesting creatures without |
| it's built, though, you'll need the perfect | | | | damaging them. |
| location. | | | | |
| | | | Bat species in general have been in decline |
| First, if bats can be seen in an area at | | | | during recent years, due in part to the |
| dusk, the area is likely to be a good spot to | | | | removal of old trees. In building a bat box, |
| support a bat box. The box should be placed | | | | not only do you provide yourself with an |
| at least ten feet above the ground with its | | | | interesting sight, but you'll also be helping |
| opening facing south-southeast, and it should | | | | preserve the animal's species! |