Make sure the interior wood is roughened for the bats to cling to.Side vents should be 6 inches tall by ½ inch wide. The front vents should be as long as the house is wide. For houses that are more than 36 inches tall, vents should be 10 - 12 inches from the bottom. Vents should be about 6 inches from the bottom of houses that are 24 - 36 inches tall. Add a vent to each side to allow air flow and prevent the bats from overheating.Multiple chambers should be ¾ - 2 inches apart. Bat houses should be at least 24 inches tall (with chambers being at least 20 inches tall), 14 or more inches wide, and open on the bottom to prevent buildup of guano.A combination of exterior grade plywood and cedar is best.Multi-chamber bat house under the eaves of a house.īelow are some key elements for a successful bat house:

Bats also need warm places to raise their babies, which is why bat houses are painted dark colors and the sides are caulked to keep the heat in and water out. Additionally, bat houses are constructed using rough wood so the bats can hang on without slipping and falling. Bats like tight spaces, so the inside of a bat house is very narrow. Since many bat species would typically roost under the bark of a dead tree, the goal is to make a bat house that mimics the narrow, rough space between the bark and trunk of a tree. The style of your bat house depends on the tools, wood, and building materials you have available, as well as your skills and budget. Building a bat house is a great way to get involved in bat conservation and help these threatened animals.

Do bats hibernate in bat houses