Bat House Forum

[Tsa-La-Gi Acres]

This will be lengthy so you might want to get comfy before you read.
We are looking to purchase our dream property that is set up exactly the way we want with 10 + acres. Problem is that it is surrounded by fields. Not just any fields but rotated fields of rice and soybeans. It is in the mississippi delta and misquetoes are seriously bad there. To the point that we were told that we would not be able to go out after dark because we'd be carried off. We raise dairy goats and garden as well therefor being out of the evening is important to us.
Here is where the questions and theories begin. I (with my pea-brain) would figure that with all the 'skeeters' in the delta bats would thrive quite well and now wonder why they have not implicated a 'natural' means of ridding ppl of intrusive/ unwanted insects using bats? Would we have a problem with our livestock if we started some bat houses in the corrals (there are large lite poles for riding at night)? I want to make sure that we are not cutting off our nose to spite our face so to speak. Are there any health concerns that we have to worry with? The research I have found for Arkansas says that all of the Ar. bats are the ones that only eat insects so I'm hoping that there would not be a problem with the animals being bit/nipped as with the vampire bats.

I also am looking at using the guano on our gardens (still reading up on best ways of when and how to use) I am very open to ideas and any knowlege from this group of bat'aholics lol ......
Personally I like bats, I just dont know much about them.
I would rather use god given natural instruments to work our farm than, rely on any man made chemical which bleeds us out from pocket book to throat...

[Joe Spencer]

Hi and welcome.
The closest vampire bat to you is Mexico. You do have insect eating bats however, they do not harm anyone or animals. Only a sick rabid bat can when handled and or caught by an animal or human. If pets and animals are up to date with shots there is no concern.

Here is a start on what bats prefer:

A roost which is within 1/4 mile of a year round water supply. You can still attract them if the water supply is further.

A roost which meets their temperature and safety from predator needs.

NOTE big brown bats do not eat mosquitoes but little brown bats and other species do when these insects are abundant. Unfortunately, these bats are currently being decimated by White Nose Syndrome and their numbers are steadily decreasing. Big Brown bats are affected to a lesser degree. Hopefully something can be done soon but it require a great effort monetarily and otherwise..

http://www.batcon.org/index.php/get-inv ... house.html

Get the Bat House Builder's Handbook. It is a fantastic read, reasonable and proceeds help bats.

[SpringvilleRob]

I am not a professional but have learned much from reading about bats. One caution with mosquito control, yes certain bat species do consume mosquitoes, but not at the level some exaggerated reports suggest. These reports supposedly were extrapolated from studies where bats were confined to a single area and were only given mosquitoes to eat.

In the real world, yes bats will consume skeeters but will chose bigger prey if available. So bats may help you out a little, but may not even be enough to notice.

[Dave Miller]

I would recommend a combination of bat houses and purple martin or swallow houses (find out what insect-eating birds are common there). It is true that mosquitoes are not bats' first choice (moths, beetles & flies are), but bats will eat mosquitoes when their preferred prey is not abundant. If possible you should put up a bat house even though the bats probably will not "eliminate" your mosquitoes (though I would guess you will find few mosquitoes near the bat house). Most bats' natural roosts are gone so they need all the help they can get.