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