How to Attract Bats To Your Yard

You may have read the title and said to yourself, "Why would I want to attract bats to my yard"? The answer is easy. Bats are a great source of natural insect control. Bats feed on many yard and garden pests such as mosquitoes. Bats have gotten a bad reputation as being disease ridden pests that prey on humans. While some bats do carry diseases such as rabies, they do intentionally attack humans as prey. A bat will attack if cornered or threatened. So, if you would like a natural insect and pest control method, attract bats to your yard and garden.

Instructions

1. Buy or build a bat house. Be sure to place your bat house near a water source such as a pool, stream, birdbath or backyard pond. Do not place your bat house where you would normally sit outside because you will scare the bats off. Bat houses are available at garden centers and online.

2. Plant plants that bats are attracted to such as Four O'clocks, Lavender, Bachelors Buttons, Phlox, Sweet William and Thyme. Place your plants in the vicinity of the bat house.

3. Install a mercury vapor light in a dark corner of your yard or garden, away from where you would normally sit outside at night. Install the light on a pole. The pole should be at least 4 feet tall. Insects will be attracted to the light and gather around it. The bats will be attracted to the large number of bugs in one area and come to feed.