![]() The idea behind a rocket box is that a bat roosting in one can move to whatever side of the house it wants in order to achieve maximum comfort. There are several styles of bat houses, but this article is about the Rocket-Box bat house, named as such because it resembles a bottle rocket. Place where entrance to the house is unobstructed so that bats have a wide, open area with which to safely fly in and out without bumping into things, and where predators cannot easily ambush them - 10-15 feet vertically and horizontally.Completely seal the house with caulk and paint with flat, black exterior latex paint so that it collects and holds heat.Put your bat house in full sun - the hottest place on your property (usually south- or west-facing) and preferably on its own, tall post, not on a building.While there is no guarantee that your bat house will be inhabited, there are basic tips to improve your chances, most of which involve understanding that bats need heat - lots of heat - as well as open space around their dwellings. Pacific Northwest species that might use a bat house include Little brown myotis, Big brown bat, Long-eared bat, California myotis and Yuma myotis. You can help by preserving trees and snags as well as by building bat houses. When people cut down trees and move into forested areas, they disturb the bats’ habitat. ![]() The top of the untreated post is cut at sharp angles where it will meet the roof of the box to allow room for bats to roost. But many Western Washington bats are forest dwellers - sleeping and raising their babies (pups, as they are known) in live or dead trees. Most people think bats roost in caves, barns or bridges, which is true with some species, like the local Big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). Unfortunately, bat numbers are declining in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere in the world, with dire consequences to the environment. Rocket Box Bat House Design by Dan Dourson, WSFS, Kentucky & John MacGregor with Northwest Modifications by Patricia Otto. Besides their value to humans and ecosystems, they are also fascinating creatures to observe. ![]() In many parts of the world, they are crucial pollinators and can help regenerate rain forests by dispersing seeds. By devouring mosquitoes, crane flies and other pests, they protect crops and human health. They certainly are - a bat can eat as many as 1,000 insects an hour. You may have heard that bats are wonderful for insect control. The area below the house provides plenty of horizontal and vertical space for bats to fly safely - free from obstruction and predators. The house was constructed of 1 inch, by 8 inch, by 8 foot cedar boards cut to size with a total height from ground level of 13 feet. The author’s bat house was graciously built by neighbor John McGhee for about $65 in materials.
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