HOW TO BUILD A BAT HOUSE

Although bats cannot be attracted to or physically placed into an area, you can make your yard or garden "bat friendly"�by not using pesticides and providing a safe place to rest during the day, such as a bat house�which may encourage bats to colonize your property. The following bat house, originally conceived for use under bridges, is a simple yet effective design that can be constructed and mounted in a few short hours.

The bat house must be mounted on a large structure in order to maintain a stable temperature. A location on the southeast side of a house or barn, snug against the eaves of the roof, is ideal. A back plate is unnecessary if the bat house is placed on a flat wall that is rough enough so that bats can cling to it. If using a back plate, it must either be scored horizontally (a screwdriver works nicely for this purpose) or covered with a sheet of fiberglass window screen.

Materials (24" by 26" bat house)

• One sheet 1/2" x 24" x 48" CDX (outdoor) plywood cut into 24" x 22" front plate and 24" x 26" back plate (back plate optional)
• Two pine boards 1" x 21"�tapered 1/2" to 1" (may be replaced with untapered 3/4" boards)
• One pine board 1/2" x 1" x 24"
• One 24" x 28" sheet of fiberglass window screen (if using an unscored back plate)
• Screws

Securely staple fiberglass screen around back plate. Assemble as shown.