How to attract Bats to the Garden

How to attract Bats to the Garden to get better insect control.

How to attract Bats to the Garden. Nature provides some of the best defenses against insect pests and bats are one of them. Feeding a couple hours a night they not only rid your yard of insects but also help you do it by not spraying pesticides everywhere.

Things You'll Need

• Bat house
• Water source
• Food source
• other items

Instructions

1. We are going to focus on three main areas for the bats today. Shelter, food and water. This is all it really takes to attract bats to your home or garden for their feeding habits. For shelter you may want to put up what are called bat houses (if you don't have natural shelters for bats to roost in). A bat house can be bought commercially (see the handy links to garden centers) or made. By providing a place to roost your bats will never stray too far away from your home.

2. Bat house size and location are very important. Make sure your bat house is at least two feet deep and 14 inches wide. It must also have a 6-8 inch extension on the bottom. Why? Landing platform.
   Also you must locate the bat house well. Place it next to water. Also pole mount it at least 15 feet from the ground. Bats find these easier than bat houses mounted on trees and also the threat of predators is less than a tree mounted house. The bat house also must be in full sun, and depending on your climate painted dark to trap solar rays, black for July temperatures of less than 85 degrees, and white with July average temperatures of over 100 degrees.

3. Bats, like all living creatures need water. If your property lacks a clean water source you will not attract as many bats as you would if you installed a fountain or pool. For those of you lucky enough to have a pond or creek near this will do just fine. But for those of you who don't, just install a bird bath or fountain, make sure to keep fresh water in it (this makes it more appealing and keeps larval mosquito from taking hold).

4. Food. You may be asking why we need to add food for bats, that's why they are coming to the garden. Well you need to work a little strategy for the bats to come and more food is needed. The strategy is to get night blooming plants. Why? these plants besides having blooms at night attract night flying insects (think moths) this is a good thing though. With them comes bats to feed on them, this takes care of your new insect problem and your old insect problem in one fell swoop. Look for Moonflowers, Evening primroses etc.

5. Last but not least the 'thou shalt not have' section. If you want bats to come here are some things you CANNOT do. 1) Pesticide, besides being bad for you overuse of a pesticide will seriously harm wildlife (i.e. bat) populations. Use in moderation and only as directed.
   2) Outdoor, roaming cat. Not only do cats prey upon birds, they also like to feast on other flyers, and I'm sure you don't want your cat to bring you a dead bat for a present now do you?

6. Last second pointers. Lights at night attract insects, think about getting some. Also dead trees and living trees provide places to roost and in the case of dead trees insects to feed on. These are all good ways to attract bats.